DaysofPal – US President Donald Trump has begun inviting world leaders and prominent international figures to join his proposed “Board of Peace,” signaling ambitions that extend beyond Gaza to a broader, long-term framework aimed at addressing global conflicts.
Initially unveiled as part of phase two of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas to end Israel’s war on Gaza, the board was originally presented as a mechanism to oversee governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization in the enclave. However, letters sent by Trump to invited leaders suggest a far wider mandate.
Copies of the invitations, shared on social media on Saturday by Argentinian President Javier Milei and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, were accompanied by a so-called “charter” outlining the body’s expanded vision. In his letter to Milei, Trump said the board would aim to “solidify peace in the Middle East” while simultaneously pursuing “a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
The Financial Times reports that the accompanying charter characterizes the Board of Peace as an international organization that aims to secure lasting peace in areas impacted or threatened by conflict, restore trustworthy and legal governance, and promote stability.
The document reportedly argues that lasting peace requires “pragmatic judgment, common sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed,” without explicitly referencing Gaza. Diplomatic sources cited by Reuters confirmed that the invitations included a charter outlining this broader mission.
One diplomat familiar with the correspondence described the initiative to Reuters as “a ‘Trump United Nations’ that ignores the fundamentals of the UN Charter.”
A senior US official told The Associated Press that any expanded global role for the Board of Peace remains “aspirational,” adding that Trump and his advisers believe such an initiative could be viable amid longstanding US and international frustration with the United Nations. The official stressed, however, that the board is not intended to replace the UN.
Initial Focus on Gaza
Despite its broader ambitions, the Trump administration has so far maintained that the Board of Peace will initially focus on Gaza. On Friday, Trump announced that former British prime minister Tony Blair would serve as a founding executive member, alongside Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Other founding members include Marc Rowan, chief executive of Apollo Global Management; World Bank Group President Ajay Banga; and Robert Gabriel, a US deputy national security adviser.
Several of these figures were also named to a separate “Gaza Executive Board,” which is tasked with overseeing a technocratic Palestinian body known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The committee is expected to manage day-to-day governance in the territory in place of Hamas.
The 11-member Gaza executive board includes Blair, Kushner, and Witkoff, as well as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al Thawadi, UN Middle East peace coordinator Sigrid Kaag, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy, and Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay.
Beyond Milei and Peña, Türkiye and Egypt have confirmed that their leaders, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, have also been invited to join the wider Board of Peace. A European Union official said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been invited to represent the EU. Reuters also reported that leaders from France, Germany, Australia, and Canada have received invitations, though no official confirmation has been issued.
The White House said additional members would be announced in the coming weeks.
Controversy and Criticism
The initial announcement of board members triggered anger across parts of the Middle East, particularly over the absence of Palestinian representatives and the inclusion of figures widely viewed as strong supporters of Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voiced opposition on Saturday to the Gaza executive board, saying its composition was not coordinated with Israel and “runs contrary to its policy,” without specifying the aspects he opposed.
Bloomberg reports that the Trump administration is asking countries for $1 billion to be granted a seat on the Board of Peace. The White House dismissed the report as “misleading,” stating there is no minimum fee to join the board, while confirming that a $1 billion contribution would apply to countries seeking “permanent membership.”
“This simply offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the White House said in a post on X.
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