Israel has officially joined U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday during his Washington visit, where he met Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Visuals from the meeting showed Netanyahu signing Israel’s accession to the board, which aims to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance and reconstruction.
The Board of Peace was authorized by a U.N. Security Council resolution in November 2025 following a fragile ceasefire in Gaza under Trump’s peace plan. While Trump chairs the board, Israel’s inclusion has raised criticism as the initiative does not include a Palestinian representative, prompting concerns about fairness and legitimacy.
The board’s first meeting is scheduled for February 19 in Washington to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction, which faces major challenges, including infrastructure devastation, widespread hunger, and displacement of the territory’s entire population. Rights groups and U.N. inquiries have described Israel’s military actions as potentially genocidal, while Israel maintains its operations are acts of self-defense following the 2023 Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages.
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International reactions to the board have been cautious. While some U.S. Middle Eastern allies have joined, many traditional Western allies have refrained, citing concerns that the board could undermine U.N. authority and resemble a colonial oversight structure. Experts also warn that the board’s actions may complicate the already fragile ceasefire in Gaza, which has seen repeated violations resulting in hundreds of casualties on both sides.
The next phase of the Trump plan involves highly contentious steps, including Hamas disarmament, further Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and deployment of an international peacekeeping force. Analysts caution that without broad regional and Palestinian participation, the board’s effectiveness and legitimacy remain uncertain.
Netanyahu also met Trump to discuss broader Middle Eastern security issues, including Iran, signaling that Israel’s role on the board may be part of a larger strategic partnership with the U.S. in regional conflict management. Critics argue, however, that the board risks sidelining Palestinian voices while consolidating unilateral influence over Gaza’s governance.
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