Trump Peace Plan Gains Traction: 7 Nations Join Board

Seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, have agreed to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, while Russia is still considering the invitation. The board, initially envisioned to aid in ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas and oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, appears to be designed to potentially replace functions of the United Nations.

Board Aims and Membership

Saudi Arabia stated that the group of Muslim-majority countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Qatar – supports the goal of establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating reconstruction, and achieving a “just and lasting peace.”

During the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted his invitation to join. Putin subsequently responded that the invitation was under consideration, noting Russia was prepared to contribute $1 billion from frozen Russian assets and viewed the board as primarily relevant to the Middle East.

Other nations that have signed up include Canada, the UK, the UAE, Bahrain, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Vietnam, and Slovenia, though Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob declined the invitation, citing concerns about interference with the international order. The Vatican confirmed Pope Leo received an invitation and is considering participation.

Charter and Executive Board

According to a leaked document, the Board of Peace’s charter will take effect once three states formally agree to be bound by it, offering member states renewable three-year terms and permanent seats to those contributing $1 billion (£740m). The charter designates the body as an international organization authorized to carry out peace-building functions under international law, with Trump serving as chairman and U.S. representative, and holding the authority to appoint executive board members and create subsidiary bodies.

The White House has already named seven members of the founding Executive Board: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK prime minister Tony Blair.

Gaza Focus and Israeli Response

Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed as the board’s representative in Gaza during a second phase of the plan, which includes reconstruction and demilitarization, authorized by a UN Security Council resolution running until the end of 2027.

Netanyahu’s office stated that the Gaza Executive Board’s composition “was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.” Israeli media reported that the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar, both involved in brokering the ceasefire, occurred “over Israel’s head.”

Under phase one of the peace plan, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, an exchange of hostages and prisoners, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid deliveries. Israel has stated it can only move into the second phase after Hamas releases the body of the last deceased hostage.

Phase two faces challenges, as Hamas has previously refused to disarm without an independent Palestinian state, and Israel has not committed to a full withdrawal from Gaza.

Reuters

The ceasefire remains fragile, with over 460 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes since its implementation, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military reports three soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period. The conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to over 71,550 reported Palestinian deaths, according to the territory’s health ministry.