U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his initiative, the "Board of Peace," has secured a comprehensive agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other militant factions in Gaza, alongside the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Trump characterized the accord as "historic" and detailed that its implementation would proceed in stages.
The "Board of Peace" proposal, initiated by Trump last September as part of his strategy to resolve the Gaza conflict, was later expanded in scope to address global disputes with Trump himself serving as chairman. This role has traditionally been fulfilled by the United Nations. The board's charter stipulates that member states are limited to three-year terms unless they contribute $1 billion annually to fund its operations, thereby earning permanent membership.
The White House identified the founding Executive Board members in January, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Over two dozen countries, including key U.S. allies in the Middle East such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar, have joined as founding members. Other regional participants include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, along with a number of nations from other continents.
Notable absentees from the initiative include major Western allies and significant Global South nations like Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa. Leaders from Britain, the European Union, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden have stated they will not participate. The Vatican has also declined, asserting that crisis management should remain under the purview of the United Nations. China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power, have not joined.
The UN Security Council previously passed a U.S.-drafted resolution acknowledging the board in November, describing it as a transitional administration intended to establish a framework and coordinate funding for Gaza's redevelopment under Trump's plan. The resolution authorized the board to deploy an International Stabilization Force in Gaza until 2027, with a requirement to report its progress to the Security Council biannually. However, the board's broader legal authority and enforcement mechanisms beyond Gaza remain undefined, as does its coordination with existing international bodies.
Critics, including human rights experts, have voiced concerns that Trump's chairmanship of a board overseeing a foreign territory mirrors a colonial structure. They point to the exclusion of Palestinian representation and the inclusion of figures like Tony Blair, given his controversial role in the Iraq War and historical British imperialism in the Middle East. Scrutiny has also been directed at the board's membership, which includes countries with widely criticized human rights records. The inclusion of Israel on a board tasked with overseeing Gaza's temporary governance has drawn particular criticism, especially in light of the devastation in Gaza following Israeli military operations, which have resulted in significant loss of life, a humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement, prompting assessments of potential genocide by various experts and UN inquiries. Israel maintains its actions constitute self-defense following the October 7th attacks by Hamas-led militants.
In recent months, Trump convened the board's inaugural meeting in February, announcing contributions totaling $7 billion for a Gaza reconstruction fund, contingent upon Hamas's disarmament. Separately, discussions within the board were reportedly paused due to regional geopolitical tensions but subsequently resumed concerning Trump's Gaza plan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed cooperation with the board on Gaza, and reports indicated the board was exploring infrastructure and supply chain management projects for Gaza, alongside planning for a pilot humanitarian zone.
