At least four more countries said Sunday that the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s “Peace Board,” a new body meant to oversee next steps in Gaza that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs.
A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board rather than a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the letter, which has not been made public. The official said the money raised would go toward the reconstruction of Gaza.
The board will be made up of world leaders. The United States is scheduled to announce its official membership list in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
On Sunday, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan reported receiving invitations to join the board. Canada, Türkiye, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited. It was unclear how many have been invited in total.
Board members will oversee next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that went into effect on October 10 moves into its challenging second phase. This includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of the war-torn territory.
In letters sent Friday to world leaders inviting them to be “founding members,” Trump said the Peace Board would “undertake a bold new approach to resolving global conflicts.”
That could become a potential rival to the United Nations, the global body created after World War II. Its influence has been diminished by significant funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors, and its most powerful body, the UN Security Council, has been blocked as US vetoes have prevented it from taking action to end the war in Gaza.
Trump’s invitation letters to the Peace Board noted that the Security Council had endorsed the US plan that includes the creation of the board. The letters were published on social networks by some of the guests.
The White House also announced last week an executive committee of leaders that will carry out the Peace Board’s vision, but Israel objected Saturday that the committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without providing details. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was a rare criticism of his close ally in Washington.
Executive committee members include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, along with an Israeli businessman, billionaire Yakir Gabay.
Members also include representatives from ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye. Türkiye has a tense relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas and could play an important role in persuading the group to give up power in Gaza and disarm.
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Correspondent Joshua Boak contributed to this story from West Palm Beach, Florida.
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This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative artificial intelligence tool.
