U.S. President Donald Trump has taken the initiative to include the leaders of Turkey and Egypt in the newly formed “Board of Peace,” tasked with overseeing Gaza’s post-ceasefire governance and reconstruction efforts. Formal invitations have been extended to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with both Ankara and Cairo confirming the development.
Trump first proposed the idea of the Board of Peace last September as part of his broader peace plan to resolve the Gaza crisis. In October, both Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas agreed to the second phase of the plan. Under the initiative, a Palestinian technocratic administration will be established in Gaza, with its activities monitored by the Board of Peace.
Last Friday, the White House released the inaugural list of board members. The roster includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and several other influential international figures. Businessman Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Trump advisor Robert Gabriel, and former U.N. Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov are also on the list. Trump will serve as the chairman of the board.
In this context, a spokesperson for President Erdoğan confirmed on social media that the Turkish leader had received an invitation to become an inaugural member of the board a day earlier. On the same day, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated at a press conference that President el-Sisi had also been invited, and the Egyptian government was reviewing the matter seriously.
Since October 7, 2023, an Israeli military operation in Gaza has killed thousands of Palestinians. The humanitarian situation, including a severe food crisis, has reached alarming levels, with much of the population effectively displaced. United Nations investigative committees and various international experts have accused Israel of committing “genocide” during the operation, although Israel maintains that its actions are part of self-defense in response to a Hamas attack.
While the formation of the Board of Peace is part of the second phase of implementing a Gaza ceasefire, continued Israeli attacks have raised doubts among Palestinians about the initiative’s effectiveness. The first priority of the interim administration under the board will be ensuring urgent humanitarian aid and relief for Gaza’s residents.
According to reports from Al Jazeera and other news agencies, Trump envisions the board not only for Gaza but also as a long-term international mechanism to address global conflicts. The invitation letter and attached “charter” emphasize following a “new and bold path” to consolidate peace in the Middle East and resolve global conflicts.
However, the initiative has sparked debate in diplomatic circles. In comments to Reuters, one diplomat described it as “Trump’s United Nations,” noting that it does not reflect the fundamental principles of U.N. resolutions. The White House, however, maintains that the Board of Peace is not a replacement for the U.N., but rather a complementary initiative, currently in an “aspirational” stage.
Financial concerns have also been raised regarding board membership. Some reports claim countries are asked to contribute one billion dollars to join. The White House has denied these claims, clarifying that there is no mandatory fee for membership, though financial commitments may apply for “permanent membership.”