Israel Joins Trump's Board of Peace as Gaza Reconstruction Talks Loom

Israel has formally joined the Board of Peace, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday after his Washington visit with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Netanyahu posted on X that he signed Israel’s accession as a member of the board, in a step aimed at advancing international engagement on Gaza following a fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The board was authorized in a United Nations Security Council resolution in mid-November as part of a broader U.S.-led Gaza peace plan that Israel and Hamas agreed to in October. 

• Israel joins Trump’s Board of Peace as Gaza reconstruction talks approach
• Netanyahu signs Israel’s entry into Trump-led peace board in Washington
• Board of Peace move sparks debate over Gaza governance and UN role

Under that framework, the board is meant to oversee temporary governance of Gaza and support the long-term Gaza reconstruction plan. Its first meeting of leaders is scheduled for Feb. 19 in Washington.

Trump has said the board, which he would chair, could later be expanded into a wider Middle East peace initiative addressing other global conflicts. The proposal has drawn criticism from rights experts and some diplomats, who argue that a board led by Trump and lacking Palestinian representation risks sidelining the United Nations and creating external control over Gaza’s future.

Several U.S. allies have expressed hesitation. Poland and Italy said they would not participate under current conditions, citing concerns over decision-making authority and representation within the board.

The Gaza ceasefire has remained fragile since it took effect, with repeated violations and casualties reported on both sides. Israeli military operations and the humanitarian crisis continue to dominate regional tensions.

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The next phase of the plan includes sensitive measures such as Hamas disarmament talks, Israeli troop withdrawals, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force, all expected to feature prominently in the upcoming discussions.

Netanyahu and Trump also discussed wider regional security issues, including diplomacy related to Iran.