A collage showcases Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left), U.S. President Donald Trump (center), and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. — Reuters/File
– Cairo is currently reviewing a request for President Sisi to join the board, according to the foreign minister.
– A Canadian government official indicated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to accept Trump’s invitation.
– Argentina’s President Javier Milei expressed that it would be an honor to participate in the initiative.
The United States is forming a “Board of Peace” for Gaza following the recent conflict. Leaders from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada have been invited to join the panel. These announcements come shortly after President Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to serve on the board. Trump has designated himself as chair of this body, which aims to promote a controversial plan for economic reconstruction in Gaza, a region devastated by over two years of relentless Israeli strikes.
This development follows the inaugural meeting in Cairo of a Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing Gaza, attended by Kushner—Trump’s son-in-law—and Witkoff, who have been collaborating on this issue for months. In Canada, an aide to Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed the intention to accept Trump’s invitation, while a spokesperson for Turkish President Erdogan said he had been asked to become a “founding member” of the panel. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelattity mentioned that Cairo was “studying” the request for President Sisi to join. Meanwhile, Argentine President Milei posted on X that it would be “an honor” to take part.
Former UK Prime Minister Blair responded to the invitation by thanking Trump for his leadership and saying he was honored to join the panel’s executive board. Blair’s involvement is notable given his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion and his recent focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a representative of the “Middle East Quartet,” which includes the United Nations, European Union, United States, and Russia.
The White House has outlined that the Board of Peace will focus on issues such as governance capacity, regional relations, reconstruction, attracting investment, and mobilizing large-scale funding. Alongside Trump, current members include World Bank President Ajay Banga, billionaire financier Marc Rowan, and Robert Gabriel, a trusted aide serving on the U.S. National Security Council. Additionally, a second “Gaza executive board” appears to serve an advisory role.
The specific leaders invited to each panel have not been publicly disclosed. The White House stated that more members would be announced for both panels but did not provide further details.
Regarding ongoing conflict, Washington reports that the Gaza plan has moved into a second phase, transitioning from a ceasefire implementation to disarming Hamas, which launched an attack on Israel in October 2023, prompting a massive Israeli military response. Trump recently appointed Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead the International Stabilization Force, responsible for ensuring security in Gaza and training a new police force to replace Hamas. Jeffers has experience monitoring ceasefires between Lebanon and Israel, with periodic clashes ongoing.
In the meantime, Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority Deputy Minister Ali Shaath has been designated to head the governing committee. Trump has previously floated ideas of transforming Gaza into a resort destination akin to the French Riviera but has since distanced himself from ideas of forcibly relocating the population.
