Israeli PM Netanyahu agrees to join Trump's Board of Peace

January 21, 2026

President Donald Trump has established a "Board of Peace," a new international organization he will chair that appears designed to replace certain UN functions, with a leaked charter showing member nations can secure permanent seats by contributing $1 billion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted Trump's invitation to join, along with the UAE, Bahrain, and several other nations, though major powers like France, Sweden, and Norway have declined or not responded. The board was initially conceived to help end the Israel-Hamas conflict and oversee Gaza's reconstruction, but the charter doesn't specifically mention Palestinian territories.

Who is affected

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government
Palestinian civilians in Gaza
Hamas militants and Palestinian prisoners
Countries invited to join: UAE, Bahrain, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Vietnam, Canada, Russia, Turkey, and the UK
Countries declining participation: Norway, France, and Sweden
Members of the Executive Board: Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, Nickolay Mladenov
Members of the Gaza Executive Board: representatives from Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Israel, and the UN
Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
Over 460 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began and three Israeli soldiers killed in the same period

What action is being taken

Netanyahu is joining Trump's Board of Peace
The UAE, Bahrain, and nine other countries are joining the board
Trump is serving as chairman and selecting Executive Board leaders
Nickolay Mladenov is acting as the Board of Peace's representative in Gaza
A Palestinian technocratic government is overseeing restoration of public services, rebuilding civil institutions, and stabilizing daily life
The Gaza Executive Board is supporting the technocratic government
Hamas and Israel are implementing phase one of the peace plan, including a ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchanges, partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid deliveries

Why it matters

This represents a significant shift in international peace-making structures, with the United States attempting to create an alternative to traditional UN-led peace processes. The Board of Peace's authority and composition—particularly Trump's exclusive control as chairman and the $1 billion requirement for permanent membership—raises questions about sovereignty and the balance of global governance. The inclusion of Turkey and Qatar in the Gaza Executive Board against Israel's wishes highlights tensions in implementing the peace plan, while the fragile ceasefire and ongoing violence demonstrate the immense challenges facing reconstruction efforts. The success or failure of this initiative could reshape how international conflicts are mediated and determine whether Gaza achieves lasting peace and Palestinian statehood.

What's next

Phase two of the peace plan should include reconstruction and demilitarization of Gaza, disarmament of Hamas, and full withdrawal of Israeli forces
Member states will serve renewable three-year terms on the Board of Peace
Executive Board members will serve two-year terms
The technocratic government will continue rebuilding Gaza's civil institutions

Read full article from source: BBC