Inside Donald Trump's Board of Peace and the Gaza Disarmament Deal

The Board of Peace, proposed by Trump last September, functions as an alternative to traditional United Nations mediation. Its executive leadership includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner. The organization requires a $1 billion entry fee for permanent membership, a financial barrier that has sparked criticism from human rights advocates who view the structure as imperialist.

While over two dozen nations—including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey—have joined, major powers such as China, Russia, Brazil, and India remain outside the fold. European leaders, including those from France and Germany, have also declined to participate. The Vatican, meanwhile, has explicitly stated that international crisis management should remain under the purview of the United Nations.

In November, the U.N. Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted resolution recognizing the board as a temporary administration for Gaza through 2027. However, the organization’s actual enforcement authority remains ambiguous. Critics argue that the board’s legitimacy is undermined by the inclusion of countries with poor human rights records and the absence of Palestinian voices in the governance of their own territory. Despite these concerns, the board reported securing $7 billion in reconstruction pledges during its inaugural February meeting, a fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the enclave after years of conflict.