Council for Gaza, permanent members and external observers: who is on the board and how it works
The statute does not foresee the figure of 'observers' but this option could represent a diplomatic ploy for those countries (including Italia) that, although not adhering, will be present in Washington on 19 February
Key points
The Board of Peace is an international body chaired by Donald Trump, which was initially set up to oversee the peace process for the Gaza Strip, but whose purpose has been extended to the resolution of other global conflicts. It certainly includes at least the 20 nations that signed on as founding members at Davos, but the exact official membership today remains fluid.
The Statute and the Figure of the Observers
The Board's statute, drafted in a preamble and 13 chapters, does not expressly provide for 'observers', but this option could represent a diplomatic ploy for those countries that, although not joining, will be present in Washington on 19 February, the date set for the body's first official meeting.
The Board of Peace
The Board of Peace is part of the 20-point plan that the Trump administration proposed in October to end the conflict in Gaza and its existence has been enshrined in a UN resolution. Member states are invited by the tycoon: those who pay $1 billion immediately - so far only the US and the Emirates have promised this - will have a permanent seat. The others will only be able to stay for three years and their renewal will be at Trump's discretion.
The Executive Committee
The Board then provides for an executive committee in which names close to the American president sit: from his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to special envoy Steve Witkoff. The current administration of the Strip is instead entrusted to a committee of Palestinian technocrats.
Member Countries
So far, almost thirty nations have joined the Board, from the Saudi Arabia of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey, from Javier Milei's Argentina to Viktor Orban's Hungary, the only EU country together with Bulgaria. Ottawa, Paris, London, and Madrid have ruled out any involvement from the outset, as has Berlin, which will not join the Board, while Moscow currently remains at the window, waiting to make a decision. Israel has joined in extremis and will send Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to Washington. The list also includes, besides the USA of course, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, Cambodia, El Salvador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
