Trump's Gaza Peace Board Gains International Members
Former US President Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace for Gaza is now taking concrete form. Argentina's President Javier Milei and Canada's Mark Carney have agreed to become founding members of this international initiative. This development comes even as Israel expresses rare public objections to specific elements of Trump's broader peace plan for the region.
International Leaders Respond to Invitations
President Javier Milei publicly thanked Trump for the invitation over the weekend. He stated it would be an honor to participate in the board. Communications from Turkey's presidency confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also received an invitation to serve as a founding member. Reports from news agency AFP indicate Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is currently considering whether to accept the offer.
A senior Canadian official confirmed that Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, has accepted Trump's offer to join the effort. These international figures would form the core of the newly announced peace council.
Israel Voices Strong Objections
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a critical statement on Saturday evening. He focused his objections on plans for a subordinate committee called the Gaza Executive Board. Netanyahu's office stated this announcement was not coordinated with Israel and directly contradicts official Israeli policy.
The Prime Minister has instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding this matter. This public disagreement marks a rare moment of open discord between Netanyahu and Trump, who have typically emphasized unity and full coordination in their relationship.
Structure of the Peace Initiative
The White House announced the initial structure on Friday. A first executive panel includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. This group will operate before the full Board of Peace is fully constituted.
A second executive committee was also appointed. This panel is expected to handle the majority of the practical work involved in remaking Gaza. It includes Turkey's foreign minister and a diplomat from Qatar. It is this second committee that has drawn Netanyahu's specific objections. Israel views these countries as too closely aligned with Hamas and unlikely to support Israel's vision for Gaza's future.
Trump's Vision and Invitation
In the invitation shared by President Milei, Trump framed the effort in ambitious terms. He wrote that the board would bring together nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building lasting peace. Trump described it as an honor reserved for leaders prepared to invest in a secure and prosperous future. He added that the partners would convene in the near future.
Trump is attempting to advance his comprehensive 20-point plan for Gaza. This plan envisions a sweeping, potentially decades-long transformation of the territory, which has suffered massive destruction during two years of war between Israel and Hamas. He announced the board's formation on social media last Thursday, boasting it was the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled.
Challenges and Uncertainties Remain
Significant obstacles cloud the path to peace. Hamas still controls nearly half of Gaza and refuses to disarm. The group has also not returned the remains of the last hostage from the October 2023 attacks, a critical component of the first phase of Trump's proposal.
Despite Israeli concerns about the plan's sequence, the Trump administration this week launched the second phase. This includes forming a 15-member technocrat government intended to replace Hamas rule. Concurrently, the White House sent out the invitations to prospective board members.
Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has already been appointed as the board's chief executive officer. A future component of the plan, an International Stabilization Force (ISF) composed of soldiers from various nations, is slated for a later date. Details remain unclear regarding which countries might contribute troops and under what conditions. The US has stated it will lead from the rear and will not deploy ground troops to Gaza.
Potential for Renewed Conflict
Israel has issued a stark warning. It threatens to resume the war if the proposed International Stabilization Force fails to persuade or compel Hamas to lay down its weapons. The militant group has shown no indication of disarming since the ceasefire began in mid-October. Nevertheless, the Trump administration has signaled a firm determination to achieve the full demilitarization of the entire Gaza Strip.
The prospect of a durable and prosperous peace remains deeply uncertain. The formation of the Board of Peace represents a significant diplomatic step, but it unfolds against a backdrop of profound geopolitical tensions and a fragile ceasefire on the ground.
