US President Donald Trump has invited India to join a proposed “Board of Peace”, a body intended to oversee governance and reconstruction efforts in post-war Gaza, sources told NDTV. Reported by Aditya Raj Kaul from NDTV.
According to the White House, the initiative will comprise three layers: a central board chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee made up of technocrats tasked with administering Gaza, and a secondary “executive board”expected to function in an advisory capacity.
Pakistan has also confirmed receiving an invitation to participate in the Gaza-focused Board of Peace.
India is widely viewed as a neutral and acceptable participant for both Israel and Palestine, owing to its longstanding ties with both sides. While India maintains a strong strategic partnership with Israel, it has consistently extended humanitarian assistance and support to Palestine. New Delhi was also among the first countries to send aid to Gaza via Egypt after the latest conflict erupted.
Israel’s envoy to India, Reuven Azar, had earlier told NDTV in an exclusive interview that Pakistan would not be acceptable to Israel for any future role in Gaza’s administration.
The Board of Peace, established on January 15 as part of Trump’s broader 20-point peace plan for Gaza, is being seen as a possible template for addressing other international conflicts in the future.
Global reactions to the proposal have been cautious. Governments have refrained from openly endorsing the initiative, with diplomats warning that it could undermine the role of the United Nations. Hungary was the only country to offer clear public support, reflecting its leader’s close political alignment with Trump.
Invitations to join the board were reportedly sent to around 60 countries and began reaching European capitals over the weekend, according to diplomats cited by news agency Reuters. Several officials, speaking anonymously, expressed concern over the potential impact of the initiative on existing UN-led peace mechanisms.
The White House has not yet clarified the specific responsibilities assigned to board members, noting only that additional participants would be announced in the coming weeks.
A separate 11-member “Gaza Executive Board” is expected to include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UN Middle East peace coordinator Sigrid Kaag, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay, and representatives from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the composition of the executive board had not been coordinated with Israel and conflicted with its policy positions. This reaction is believed to stem from Israel’s opposition to Turkish involvement, as well as its strained relationship with Qatar.
ISSUE
Leave a Comment