Among the signatories was Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alongside delegates from multiple countries, marking the launch of what Trump described as a fresh platform for dialogue, cooperation, and stability.
Speaking at the ceremony, Trump thanked participating nations and said the Board would work closely with the United Nations and global partners. He stressed that steady communication, shared responsibility, and patience are the only realistic paths forward in a region worn down by decades of conflict.
Reflecting on his past role in global affairs, Trump claimed credit for preventing several wars. Referring to South Asia, he said Pakistan and India both nuclear-armed states were kept from the brink of conflict during his leadership. “Talking,” he said, “often saves more lives than fighting.”
On Iran, Trump struck a softer tone, saying he remains open to dialogue if both sides are willing. He added that pressure may force silence, but conversation creates solutions.
The announcement comes against the grim backdrop of the Gaza war that began in October 2023, during which more than 71,000 Palestinians, including large numbers of women and children, have reportedly been killed. Despite a phased ceasefire agreement brokered in 2025 by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, violations have continued to surface.
According to official documents, the Board of Peace is not limited to Gaza alone. Its charter gives it a global mandate to promote peace, stability, lawful governance, and conflict resolution in regions at risk. The Board will operate under international law and is framed as both a peace building and reconstruction body.
Trump will serve as Chairman, holding sweeping authority. He will have the power to create, amend, or dissolve sub bodies, appoint or remove executive members, and approve all resolutions. No decision, according to the charter, can move forward without his consent.
Membership will be by invitation only, issued by the U.S. President. Each country will be represented by its head of state or government.
While terms are set at three years, countries contributing more than $1 billion in the first year will not be bound by this limit a clause that has already raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles.The seven-member Executive Board is expected to include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, investor Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s close national security aide Robert Gabriel.
Invitations have been sent to dozens of countries, including China, India, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Egypt, and Argentina. Hungary, Albania, Vietnam, Morocco, and Kazakhstan have shown willingness to join.
Canada confirmed participation but declined to pay the $1 billion fee. France has openly refused to join, prompting Trump to threaten heavy tariffs on French wine. Ukraine has also expressed hesitation about sitting in any joint forum with Russia. The Board will become officially active once at least three states formally commit.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar announced their decision to join the Board of Peace. They welcomed Trump’s invitation and pledged to complete all legal and constitutional requirements for membership.
The statement said the Board would act as an interim administration in Gaza, aiming to stabilize the ceasefire, oversee reconstruction, and lay the groundwork for a just and lasting peace, including Palestinian self-determination and statehood, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Supporters call the initiative a rare opening in a region short on trust and long on pain. Critics, however, warn that tying peace to financial contributions and concentrated authority could deepen global divisions rather than heal them.
As the world watches, the Gaza Board of Peace stands at a crossroads hailed by some as a step toward calm, questioned by others as a tool of influence. Whether it becomes a bridge to peace or another chapter of controversy will depend not on speeches, but on what follows next.
