The Board of Peace

The Board of Peace (BoP) is an international organization created and chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, initially established to oversee the ceasefire, demilitarization, and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. Launched in January 2026 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the organization was endorsed by a transitional mandate from the United Nations Security Council. However, its core charter outlines a broader global mission to bypass or act as an alternative to the United Nations in resolving global conflicts. 

Countries must contribute more than $1 billion to become permanent board members, but can join without cost for at least the first three years.

The more than 20 founding members of the organization, in addition to the United States, include Argentina, Hungary, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Several longtime European allies of the United States, such as France and Spain, have said that they would not join the board at this time, saying that its charter raised serious questions about international law and respect for the U.N.

On Thursday, 30 July, Donald Trump announced a peace agreement in which Hamas would give up its weapons in return for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.While it was widely recognized that Hamas's concession to give up its weapons was indeed a breakthrough, it was immediately clear that the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, had no intention of leaving the Gaza Strip.

The peace plan for Gaza, promoted by the Board of Peace, which includes:

• widespread economic development inside the Gaza Strip

• a new government for Gaza of technocrats

• the complete disarmament of Hamas

• the withdrawal of Israel

• the resumption of aid

However it faces insurmountable problems. The government of Israel, far from seeking to establish a viable Palestinian entity in the Gaza Strip, has continued its bombings and attacks even after the ceasefire began. Instead, it is pursuing a policy of driving Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and settling it with Israeli Jews.While Hamas has offered disarmament, it is conditional on their weapons being placed under the authority of a neutral entity, led by Palestinians, which would again be almost certainly unacceptable to the Israeli government.

The Board of Peace provides further evidence of Trump's attempts to undermine the UN.The Trump administration has cut funding to several important UN agencies, and Trump has criticized the UN on multiple occasions.While the USA has had a long‑standing uneasy relationship with the UN, Trump particularly dislikes this institution.However, the widespread ridicule aimed at the Board of Peace, its obvious limitations, and its appearance as no more than a Trumpian confection, has done little credible damage to the UN or offered a realistic alternative.

The board is criticized for failing to pressure Israel into compliance or stopping ongoing military actions, acting instead as a "diplomatic cover" while remaining powerless on the ground 

The unprecedented scale of civilian deaths—overwhelmingly women and children—and the destruction of over 60% of Gaza's housing stock. UN experts argue that the use of high-yield explosives in densely populated areas demonstrates a reckless disregard for civilian life equivalent to an attempt to destroy the population. Since the ceasefire in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian civilians have continued to be killed, disproportionately affecting women and children.