By Ginika Igboke
At least seven countries have publicly confirmed receiving invitations from President Donald Trump to join a U.S.-led Board of Peace for Gaza, which will oversee the reconstruction of the enclave.
The Board of Peace, to be chaired by Trump, is part of phase two of a U.S.-backed cease-fire agreement between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
The board will supervise a Palestinian technocratic body known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Abdel Hamid Sha’ath.
On Jan. 16, Trump announced the board’s founding executive members, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, private equity executive Marc Rowan, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and U.S. National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.
Australia, Pakistan, Jordan, Paraguay, Argentina, Vietnam, and Hungary are among the countries whose leaders have been invited, though participation by all has not yet been finalized.
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in a Jan. 18 post on X that he conveyed Trump’s invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but India has not yet issued a formal response. In a letter to Argentine President Javier Milei—shared by Milei on X—Trump said the board would seek to “solidify peace in the Middle East” and pursue “a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
Milei said he was honored to join the board as a founding member, stating that Argentina would stand with nations that confront terrorism and promote peace and freedom. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Jan. 19 that his government had received the invitation but had not yet made a decision, saying it would be reviewed through appropriate processes.
Hungary and Vietnam have announced they will join the board. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the United States recognized his country’s efforts toward peace. Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry said it would participate as a founding member and work with the United States and the international community to contribute positively to the Middle East peace process, including efforts toward establishing a Palestinian state.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed receipt of the invitation and said it would remain engaged in international peace and security efforts related to Gaza. Jordan said King Abdullah II is reviewing the invitation within the country’s legal framework. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña thanked Trump for the invitation and said Paraguay would work alongside the United States to pursue lasting peace.
The White House said board members will be responsible for overseeing Gaza’s governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization—areas it described as critical to the territory’s long-term stability.
Trump also named Abraham Accords Peace Institute CEO Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers to manage the board’s daily strategy and operations, and appointed Bulgarian diplomat and former U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov as high representative for the Gaza Strip.
In addition, the administration announced a separate 11-member executive board composed of some founding members and officials from other countries to support both the technocratic committee and Mladenov’s office.
Trump said on Jan. 15 that the United States would work with Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar to secure an agreement requiring Hamas to surrender all weapons and dismantle its tunnel network.
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