The United States’ latest initiative to establish a “Board of Peace” for Gaza has rapidly become one of the most high-profile and controversial attempts to stabilize the beleaguered Palestinian territory in recent years. Nine countries from the Middle East and Asia—Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—have formally pledged their participation, with Kuwait joining shortly thereafter. Together, they have issued a joint statement declaring their mission: to consolidate a lasting ceasefire, support reconstruction efforts, and pursue a just and durable peace grounded in the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and statehood. On paper, the board appears to signal a new era of regional diplomacy and shared responsibility for Gaza, a territory long trapped in cycles of conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Yet beneath the formal pledges lies a complex and deeply contested landscape. The Board of Peace is, in essence, an extension of former President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, a framework that has repeatedly been presented as a blueprint to end hostilities in Gaza. Its composition, however, has drawn criticism from many quarters. Alongside foreign ministers from the participating countries, the board includes close American advisors, notably Jared Kushner and Steve Wittkoff, and even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. While a Palestinian technocratic committee is expected to oversee day-to-day governance in Gaza, the presence of figures widely seen as pro-Israel has sparked scepticism among local residents and observers. Many question whether the board can genuinely act in the interests of Palestinians or whether it risks becoming an instrument of external influence, guided more by strategic alliances than the lived realities of those it is meant to serve.
Israel has confirmed its participation, a move that carries profound implications. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose administration faces outstanding International Criminal Court warrants over alleged war crimes in Gaza, remains a contentious figure in the eyes of Palestinians. His inclusion, at least symbolically, has been widely rejected by Gaza residents, who hold him accountable for the extensive destruction and loss of life in recent months. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes since the last US-mediated ceasefire in October have claimed 466 lives, a stark reminder of the fragility of any ceasefire and the enduring human cost of the conflict. For many Palestinians, any attempt at governance oversight that includes Israeli representation risks being seen as a continuation of occupation under a new guise, raising fundamental questions about legitimacy and accountability.
The international response beyond the board’s membership has been uneven. Major European actors such as France, Italy, Sweden, and Norway have declined to participate. Sweden, for example, expressed explicit reservations about the proposals advanced under Trump’s plan, while Norway signaled that its involvement would be conditional upon further consultations with Washington. Iranian engagement, long a key player in regional geopolitics, has reportedly stalled, reflecting the deep ideological and strategic divides that persist in the Middle East. Reports indicate that membership in the board entails a financial commitment of up to $1 billion, a sum that underscores both the economic stakes and the political weight expected of participating states. The cost is more than fiscal; it represents a form of investment in political influence, a mechanism through which participating states signal their regional ambitions while simultaneously confronting the enduring challenge of earning the trust of Gazans themselves.
Egypt, in particular, has publicly embraced the initiative, framing its involvement as consistent with its domestic legal and constitutional processes while pledging support for the board’s mission. Its foreign ministry has emphasized the second phase of the initiative, focused on a comprehensive conflict resolution plan. Egypt’s posture reflects a delicate balancing act: advocating for Palestinian rights and territorial stability while simultaneously navigating the geopolitical realities of its relationships with Washington, Israel, and its regional neighbors. The collective position of the participating countries reveals an ambition to convert diplomatic consensus into tangible mechanisms for stabilization, yet it also highlights the divisions and exclusions that continue to characterize the international response to Gaza’s ongoing crisis.
At its core, the Board of Peace represents both potential and peril. It offers an opportunity to bring coordinated regional diplomacy to bear on reconstruction, institutional governance, and the broader pursuit of stability in Gaza. However, the inclusion of high-profile figures closely aligned with American and Israeli interests has sown seeds of mistrust among Palestinians. For the board to succeed, it must do more than convene ministers and advisers; it must address the realities of life in Gaza, from the rubble of homes and schools to the trauma etched into a population that has endured repeated cycles of violence. Without careful attention to local perspectives, the board risks being perceived as another form of external control, a well-intentioned but ultimately hollow exercise in governance from afar.
The challenge, therefore, is not merely logistical or financial—it is profoundly human. True progress will depend on the board’s capacity to listen to Gazans, to integrate Palestinian voices into decision-making, and to ensure that any initiatives are experienced as legitimate by those on the ground. Political consensus among states, while essential, is not a substitute for trust, empathy, and accountability. It is only by bridging the gap between strategic objectives and the lived experiences of ordinary people that the board can hope to achieve a durable and meaningful peace.
History has shown that external interventions, even when sanctioned by multiple states, often falter when they fail to engage with the nuances of local politics, society, and historical grievances. Gaza’s story is shaped by decades of displacement, blockade, and conflict, and any attempt at stabilization must reckon with these realities. The Board of Peace, ambitious in conception, will be tested not in meetings and press releases but in the streets, homes, and lives of Gazans who have long endured the consequences of decisions made without their input. Its success will ultimately be measured not by the prominence of its participants but by whether it can foster reconstruction, secure a lasting ceasefire, and cultivate genuine agency for the people it purports to serve.
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