EU and US Engage in Heated Dispute Over Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza
A bitter and public disagreement between the European Union and the United States regarding the future of Gaza has escalated, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas issuing a stark warning. She asserted that Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" serves as a personal vehicle for the US president, effectively removing any accountability to Palestinians or the United Nations.
EU Criticisms and UN Mandate Concerns
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Kallas highlighted that the original UN Security Council resolution intended to assist Gaza through a Board of Peace. However, she argued this purpose has been subverted, as the board's charter makes no reference to Gaza or the UN. "It is true that the UN security council resolution provided for a Board of Peace for Gaza, but it also provided for it to be limited in time until 2027, it provided for the Palestinians to have a say, and it referred to Gaza, whereas the statute of the Board of Peace makes no reference to any of these things," Kallas stated. She concluded, "So I think there is a security council resolution but the Board of Peace does not reflect it."
Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, echoed these concerns, accusing Trump of attempting to bypass the original UN mandate for the board. He noted that Europe, a major funder of the Palestinian Authority, has been excluded from the process, further straining transatlantic relations.
US Defense and Broader Implications
In response, Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, defended the initiative, criticizing what he termed "hand-wringing" about the Board of Peace. He argued that the status quo of endless war, with Hamas controlling Gaza, must be broken. Waltz described Trump's approach as "focused multilateralism" and stated it was necessary to "put the UN on a diet and make it go back to basics of peacemaking." He also confirmed that Indonesia has agreed to contribute 8,000 troops to an International Stabilisation Force, with more deployments expected soon.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy expressed fears that the board's structure lacks controls, potentially allowing billions in reconstruction funds to end up in the hands of Trump's associates. These comments mark the first time such high-level differences over Trump's project have surfaced publicly, highlighting tensions surrounding the Gaza ceasefire and the upcoming Board of Peace meeting in Washington next week.
On-the-Ground Challenges and Palestinian Perspectives
Nickolay Mladenov, the Trump-appointed High Representative for Gaza, attempted to sidestep the controversy, focusing instead on immediate tasks. He warned, "All of this needs to move very fast. If we do not, we are not going to implement the second phase of the ceasefire but the second phase of the war." Mladenov emphasized the need for humanitarian aid, decommissioning weapons, and unifying Gaza, which is currently divided between Israeli and Palestinian control. "If we do not address the issue of Hamas and Gaza itself divided into two parts, please tell me how we get to a two-state solution, because I do not see the pathway," he said, adding that failure would have severe consequences for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Palestinian activist Mustafa Barghouti voiced concerns that discussions about Gaza are losing touch with reality, citing ongoing Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the erosion of the Oslo Accords. "It is not just about accountability for genocide, but who is going to stop this process of killing the two-state solution," he remarked, underscoring the broader geopolitical stakes.
This dispute underscores deep divisions in international efforts to address the Gaza crisis, with the Board of Peace meeting poised to be a critical flashpoint in the coming days.
