Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has signed on to President Donald Trump’s international “Board of Peace,” which is set to convene later this month to address Gaza’s reconstruction and broader global conflicts.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that Israel will join President Donald Trump’s newly established “Board of Peace,” following meetings in Washington with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
After his meeting with Rubio, Netanyahu wrote on X that he had “signed Israel’s accession as a member of the ‘Board of Peace.’”
Netanyahu traveled to Washington to discuss Iran and regional security issues with the president. During the visit, discussions also included developments in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement reached in October under a Trump-backed framework accepted by both Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The “Board of Peace” was authorized through a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November. The resolution permits the board and participating countries to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza. Under the original framework of Trump’s Gaza proposal, the board was intended to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance during a transitional period.
Subsequently, Trump announced plans to expand the board’s mandate beyond Gaza to address additional global conflicts, with the president serving as chair.
The board’s first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19 in Washington, where members are expected to discuss reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
International reaction to the initiative has been cautious. Some countries have expressed concern that the new body could overlap with or undermine existing United Nations mechanisms. While several Middle Eastern allies of Washington have joined the initiative, a number of traditional Western allies have not formally participated.
The ceasefire in Gaza, which began in October, has faced repeated violations. Gaza health officials report that at least 580 Palestinians have been killed since the truce took effect. Israeli officials have reported the deaths of four Israeli soldiers during the same period.
According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign following a late 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in the abduction of more than 250 hostages.
Multiple human rights experts, academic scholars and a United Nations inquiry have characterized Israel’s military campaign as amounting to genocide. Israeli officials reject that assessment, stating that their actions constitute self-defense in response to the Hamas-led assault.
Further details regarding the composition of the Board of Peace and the scope of its authority are expected to emerge following its inaugural meeting later this month.
Original article
Comments