Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel has formally joined US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative, making the announcement during a visit to Washington where he met with Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Images released after Netanyahu’s meeting with Rubio showed the two leaders holding a document bearing Netanyahu’s signature, confirming Israel’s accession to the board. In a post on X, Netanyahu stated that he had “signed Israel’s accession as a member of the ‘Board of Peace’.” He later held talks with Trump that included discussions on Iran.
The Board of Peace was authorised under a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November. The resolution empowered the board and participating countries to establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire took effect in October under a Trump-backed plan endorsed by both Israel and Hamas.
Under the proposal, the board is tasked with overseeing Gaza’s temporary governance. Trump has since said the initiative — which he chairs — will expand its mandate to address conflicts beyond Gaza.
The board is scheduled to hold its first meeting on February 19 in Washington, where members are expected to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction.
However, the initiative has drawn criticism from legal and human rights experts, some of whom argue that a US-led body supervising the governance of a foreign territory resembles a colonial framework. Israel’s inclusion has intensified scrutiny, particularly as no Palestinian representative is part of the board.
International reaction to Trump’s late-January invitation to join the initiative has been cautious. While several US allies in the Middle East have signed on, many traditional Western partners have opted not to participate. Analysts have also voiced concern that the board’s role could sideline or weaken the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Gaza has faced repeated violations. Palestinian and Israeli sources report that at least 580 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began in October.
The next phase of the Gaza plan envisions addressing contentious issues such as Hamas’s disarmament — a demand the group has consistently rejected — further Israeli troop withdrawals, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.
Since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, more than 72,000 people have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The conflict has also triggered widespread displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis. Multiple rights groups, academics and a UN inquiry have described the situation as amounting to genocide.