President Donald Trump has invited countries to join a new “Board of Peace for Gaza” intended to oversee next steps in Gaza as a ceasefire that took effect Oct. 10 enters what the U.S. describes as its second phase, the Associated Press reported. The U.S. invitation letters were sent Friday to world leaders as “founding members,” AP said, and several governments publicly described receiving invitations over the weekend and into Monday.
AP reported that at least eight more countries said the United States had invited them, with two — Hungary and Vietnam — indicating they have accepted. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accepted, Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said on state radio Sunday, according to AP. Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, To Lam, also accepted, Vietnam’s foreign ministry said.
AP said India has received an invitation, citing a senior Indian government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because authorities had not made the information public. Australia, which AP said has been invited, plans to consult with the U.S., Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corp., saying Australia would “to properly understand what this means and what’s involved.”
Other countries that AP reported had received invitations include Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan, which all said Sunday they had been invited. AP also said Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already told reporters they were invited, while adding that it was not clear how many countries were invited in all. The U.S. was expected to announce its official list of board members in coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
In the AP report, a U.S. official described the board’s membership structure as requiring a major financial contribution for permanent status. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity and about a charter that AP said has not been made public, told AP that $1 billion would secure permanent membership on the Trump-led board rather than a three-year appointment. AP said the official added that the money raised would go to rebuilding Gaza, and that the three-year appointment would have no contribution requirement.
AP said the board’s role would be to manage next steps as the ceasefire moves into its second phase. That phase, AP reported, includes creating a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas and reconstructing the war-battered territory. AP said Trump’s invitation letters said the board would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
AP reported that the Board of Peace proposal could become a rival to the U.N. Security Council, the 15-seat body created after World War II that has authority to act on major international security matters. AP said the council has been blocked from taking action to end the war in Gaza by U.S. vetoes, and that the U.N.’s influence has been diminished by major funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors.
AP said Trump’s invitation letters noted that the Security Council endorsed the U.S. 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, including the creation of the board. The report said some invitees posted the letters on social media. AP also said the White House last week announced an executive committee of leaders intended to carry out the board’s vision, and that Israel objected Saturday that the committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without providing details.
According to AP, the executive committee’s members include U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel. AP also said the committee includes an Israeli business owner, billionaire Yakir Gabay, and representatives of ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
AP reported that Turkey has a strained relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas, and said it could play an important role in persuading Hamas to yield power in Gaza and disarm.