World
Trump ‘asks Netanyahu to join Gaza Peace Board’ as founding member
His inclusion in what has been dubbed ‘Trump’s United Nations’ is expected to inflame advocates of Palestinian rights
January 18, 2026 10:09
His inclusion in what has been dubbed ‘Trump’s United Nations’ is expected to inflame advocates of Palestinian rights
January 18, 2026 10:09Donald Trump has reportedly asked Benjamin Netanyahu to join former British prime minister Sir Tony Blair on the Gaza Board of Peace as a founding member in a decision bound to inflame advocates of Palestinian rights.
The supposed invitation to the Israeli prime minister came as Netanyahu criticised the inclusion of Qatar, Turkey and Egypt on a second board, the subordinate “Gaza Executive Board”.
Netanyahu is among some 50 world leaders invited to join the Board of Peace, which the US president will chair, and which has been dubbed ‘Trump’s United Nations’, according to Israeli news site Ynet.
Trump has said the board will “solidify peace in the Middle East” through his “bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
The invitation letter, which was shared on X by Argentine President Javier Milei yesterday, says the proposed Board of Peace would be at the centre of Trump’s Gaza peace plan and would be established as a “new international organisation” to temporarily govern the enclave.
“Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building lasting peace,” Trump said in the missive to Milei, calling membership of the international body an “honour reserved for those prepared to lead by example” and “brilliantly invest in a secure and prosperous future for generations to come.”
Trump wrote that Buenos Aires would be invited to join as a founding member state by signing a letter of acceptance and becoming a party to the charter, which the letter said was open for signature and ratification.
The US president concluded by saying he looked forward to working with members of the Board of Peace “toward the goal of establishing lasting world peace, prosperity, and greatness for all.”
Reuters news agency has reported that leaders of France, Germany, Australia and Canada were also asked to join the Board of Peace.
The Egyptian and Turkish presidents have confirmed that they were invited, while a European Union official told Reuters that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was asked to represent Brussels.
Last night, Netanyahu’s office criticised the inclusion of Turkey, Qatar and Egypt in the Gaza Executive Board, which will advise the Board of Peace.
The announcement of the executive board’s establishment “was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy,” it said.
It added that Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar was instructed to discuss the matter with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, who was named on Friday as a founding member of the executive board.
The White House has confirmed that Blair will sit on the Board of Peace alongside Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Additional reporting by Katie Grant
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