Former U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to include the leaders of Turkey and Egypt in a proposed “Board of Peace” aimed at overseeing post-ceasefire governance and reconstruction in Gaza. According to confirmations from both Ankara and Cairo, formal invitations have been sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to become founding members of the body.
Trump first unveiled the idea of the “Board of Peace” in September last year as part of his broader peace proposal for Gaza. In October, Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas reportedly agreed to the second phase of the plan. Under this framework, a Palestinian technocratic administration would be established in Gaza, with its activities supervised by the Board of Peace.
Last Friday, the White House released the names of the board’s initial members. The list includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Other members named are U.S. businessman Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Trump adviser Robert Gabriel, and former UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov. The White House said Trump himself would serve as chairman of the Board of Peace.
In this context, a spokesperson for the Turkish presidency said on Saturday that President Erdogan had received the invitation from Trump a day earlier to join the board as a founding member. On the same day, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told a press conference that President al-Sisi had also been invited and that the Egyptian government was reviewing the proposal.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed thousands of Palestinians and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, including acute food shortages and mass displacement. UN investigative bodies and several international experts have accused Israel of committing acts amounting to “genocide.” Israel, however, maintains that its actions are part of self-defense following the Hamas-led attack and are aimed at neutralizing the group.
The formation of the Board of Peace is linked to the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. One of the interim administration’s first responsibilities under the board would be to coordinate urgent humanitarian aid and relief for Gaza’s population. However, continued Israeli strikes even after the board’s announcement have raised doubts among Palestinians about the initiative’s effectiveness.
Reports by Al Jazeera and international news agencies suggest that Trump envisions the board not only as a mechanism for Gaza but also as a long-term international framework to address future global conflicts. The invitation letters and the attached “charter” reportedly emphasize pursuing “new and bold pathways” to consolidate peace in the Middle East and beyond.
The initiative has sparked controversy in diplomatic circles. Speaking to Reuters, one diplomat described it as “Trump’s United Nations,” arguing that it lacks reflection of the UN Charter’s core principles. The White House, however, insists that the Board of Peace is not intended to replace the United Nations but to function as a complementary mechanism, with its broader role still largely “aspirational.”
Questions have also been raised about alleged financial requirements for membership. Some reports claim countries are being asked to contribute up to one billion dollars to join the board. The White House has dismissed these claims as “misleading,” stating that there is no mandatory membership fee, although certain financial commitments may be associated with “permanent membership.”
