US President Donald Trump scores a diplomatic win as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms his participation in the Board of Peace, a cornerstone of the Gaza Peace Plan. Launched to tackle conflicts worldwide, beginning in Gaza, the board positions Trump as lifelong chairman.
The announcement from Netanyahu’s office via X highlighted his enthusiasm to collaborate with global leaders on peace efforts. This comes against the backdrop of the plan’s second phase rollout, where Trump backs a technocratic Palestinian governance model and insists on Hamas’s total disarmament, including destruction of underground tunnels.
First phase milestones included Hamas freeing all living hostages, save for one whose body is still held, prompting outrage in Israel and calls to halt further progress until resolution.
Joining Israel are nations such as Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, the UAE, and Vietnam. Invites extended to India’s Narendra Modi remain unanswered, with sources indicating serious internal discussions. Russia’s Vladimir Putin has been approached too, and the Kremlin is studying the offer meticulously, awaiting details from US counterparts.
Critics, including seasoned diplomats, caution that the board might erode UN authority, creating parallel structures that fragment international law. Membership terms cap at three years initially, with permanent status tied to substantial funding—rumored at $1 billion per nation.
With 60 countries invited, the board represents Trump’s vision of decisive, leader-driven peace-making. Netanyahu’s buy-in strengthens the initiative’s credibility in the Middle East, where Gaza’s fragile truce hangs in balance. As responses trickle in, the world watches whether this could herald a new era or deepen divisions.