US President Donald Trump on Thursday convened a select group of international allies in Washington, D.C. to formally inaugurate the newly established Board of Peace, an institution aimed at advancing peace efforts in Gaza Strip and potentially expanding its influence to other global conflict zones.
The high-level meeting drew around two dozen world leaders and senior officials. Among them were several leaders described as having authoritarian-leaning tendencies, while notably absent were most European democratic governments that have traditionally partnered with the United States on similar diplomatic initiatives.
The “Board of Peace” emerged following a ceasefire agreement negotiated in October by the Trump administration in collaboration with Qatar and Egypt. The truce brought a halt to two years of intense conflict in Gaza, which had resulted in widespread destruction and humanitarian crises.
According to US officials, the ceasefire has now entered its second phase, focusing on the disarmament of Hamas — the group whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered a large-scale Israeli military offensive.
Despite the truce, violence has not completely subsided. Gaza’s health ministry, operating under Hamas authorities, reports that at least 601 people have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began.
At the inauguration, Trump emphasized the broader ambitions of the Board, describing it as a long-term platform for conflict resolution and international cooperation. While details of its structure and mandate remain limited, administration officials say the institution will seek to consolidate diplomatic gains in Gaza and explore opportunities for peace-building efforts in other regions facing protracted instability.
Observers say the composition of participating nations may signal a shift in Washington’s diplomatic alignments, raising questions about the future direction of US-led global peace initiatives.
