Donald Trump's so-called 'Board of Peace', initially conceived as a temporary mechanism to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, is quietly being transformed into a permanent global institution chaired by the former US president, operating in parallel to the United Nations. More than 60 world leaders have been invited to participate, with membership costing $1 billion for those seeking to remain beyond three years.
What was originally framed as a narrow mechanism to lend legitimacy to a Trump-brokered ceasefire in Gaza has shifted significantly. The board's charter now casts it as a standing body charged with promoting peace worldwide, with Trump setting the agenda, calling meetings at will, and issuing resolutions unilaterally. European and Arab diplomats who supported the idea as a way to keep Trump focused on Gaza now face a far broader arrangement.
Palestinian-American historian Rashid Khalidi criticised the board as a return to 'naked imperialism' reminiscent of the pre-First World War era. 'The masks are being dropped,' he said, drawing parallels to 19th-century South Africa where mining magnates dictated policy. He argued that today's drivers are oil investments and billionaires, not just in Palestine but also in Venezuela, Canada, and Mexico.
The expansion comes despite a ceasefire announced in October, which has not prevented further casualties. According to the source, Israel has killed 464 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect. The board's evolution has raised urgent questions about who will govern in Palestine and whether external control is being normalised.
