Trump Invites India to Join Proposed ‘Board of Peace’ for Post-War Gaza Governance: Sources

Trump Invites India to Join Proposed ‘Board of Peace’ for Post-War Gaza Governance: Sources

Former US President Donald Trump has invited India to be part of a proposed international body dubbed the “Board of Peace,” aimed at overseeing governance and reconstruction in post-conflict Gaza, sources told NDTV. The initiative is part of Trump’s broader 20-point peace plan for Gaza, unveiled on January 15.

According to the White House, the structure would include a main board chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee comprising technocrats to administer the devastated territory, and a separate “executive board” with an advisory role. Pakistan, officials confirmed, has also received an invitation to join the proposed forum.

India is being viewed as an acceptable participant for both Israel and Palestine due to its longstanding diplomatic ties with both sides. While New Delhi maintains a strong strategic partnership with Israel, it has also consistently extended humanitarian assistance and political support to Palestine. India was among the earliest nations to dispatch relief material to Gaza through Egypt after the latest conflict erupted.

Israel’s envoy to India, Reuven Azar, had earlier indicated that Pakistan would not be acceptable to Israel for any role in shaping Gaza’s future, underlining the sensitivities surrounding the proposed body’s composition.

The “Board of Peace” is being projected as a model that could potentially be expanded to address other global conflicts. However, governments across the world have responded cautiously to the invitations. Diplomats told Reuters that around 60 countries have been approached, with invitations reaching several European capitals over the weekend.

So far, only Hungary has publicly and unequivocally accepted the offer. Other nations have refrained from official statements, with some officials privately expressing concern that such a mechanism could undermine the role and authority of the United Nations in conflict resolution.

The White House has not clarified the specific responsibilities of individual board members, noting only that additional names would be announced in the coming weeks.

Separately, an 11-member “Gaza Executive Board” has been proposed, which would 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 businessman Yakir Gabay, and representatives from Qatar and the UAE.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the composition of the executive board had not been coordinated with Israel and did not align with its policy. Observers believe the objection may stem from Turkey’s inclusion, given Israel’s opposition to Ankara’s involvement, as well as Israel’s strained ties with Qatar.

As reactions continue to unfold, the proposed “Board of Peace” has sparked debate over its feasibility, legitimacy and potential impact on existing international peace-building frameworks.