Key Takeaways:
- The US has invited Australia and other countries to join the "Board of Peace", a new organization aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East
- The board will be chaired by US President Donald Trump and will have a term of no more than three years, with countries required to make a cash contribution of $US1 billion to remain part of the organization
- The board’s scope may go beyond the Gaza conflict, with no specific mention of Gaza in the draft charter
- The organization’s executive board will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others
- Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the lack of Israeli input in the organization and the inclusion of countries critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza
Introduction to the Board of Peace
The United States has invited Australia and several other countries to join the "Board of Peace", a new organization aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East. The board will be chaired by US President Donald Trump, who has been working to push the fragile ceasefire in Gaza into its next phase. A draft charter for the organization has been sent to a number of world leaders, including Canada’s Mark Carney, Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Argentina’s Javier Milei. The text of the document states that each country that accepts the invitation will be represented by its leader and will have a term of no more than three years. If a country wants to stay as part of the Board of Peace beyond that, it will have to make a cash contribution of $US1 billion.
The Scope of the Board of Peace
The scope of the Board of Peace may go beyond the Gaza conflict, as the draft charter makes no specific mention of Gaza. This has led to speculation that President Trump may want the organization to have a broader focus, addressing other conflicts and issues in the Middle East. The board’s decisions will be made by a vote of its members, subject to the approval of the chair, Donald Trump. The organization’s executive board will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and President of the World Bank Ajay Banga, among others. Former UN official Nickolay Mladenov will also be part of the executive board, taking on the role of ‘High Representative for Gaza’.
Criticism from Israel
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the lack of Israeli input in the organization and the inclusion of countries critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. The composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which will support the work of the Palestinian-led technocratic government, has already been criticized by Netanyahu. He has taken issue with the inclusion of Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi on the committee, both of whom have been highly critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Netanyahu has said that he will complain to the United States about their involvement.
The Situation in Gaza
The situation in Gaza remains fragile, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of breaching the ceasefire. Palestinian health authorities in the strip say that more than 460 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire ostensibly came into force on October 10 last year, and more than 1,200 have been injured. Israel has accused Hamas of attacking Israeli troops and refusing to quickly hand over the remains of dead Israeli hostages as part of the deal. One Israeli hostage, police officer Ran Gvili, remains unaccounted for, and his family and supporters are demanding that he be returned to Israel before the next phase of the ceasefire begins.
The Way Forward
The Palestinian-led technocratic government, which the White House has called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, met for the first time in Cairo over the weekend. The committee is led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, and is expected to take over governance of the strip from Hamas as part of the deal. The US-brokered agreement includes plans to rebuild Gaza in the coming years, and the Board of Peace is seen as a key part of this effort. However, the organization’s success will depend on the ability of its members to work together and find common ground, despite their differences. With the situation in Gaza remaining fragile and the region’s conflicts showing no signs of abating, the Board of Peace will face significant challenges in its efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East.