US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP) is scheduled to convene in Washington next week, with Pakistan and several other Muslim-majority countries expected to participate. According to the reported agenda, the meeting will review the situation in Gaza and deliberate on the board’s mandate and organisational framework.
However, unless the gathering produces tangible proposals to halt ongoing Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and ensure accountability for alleged violations in Gaza, it risks being reduced to a symbolic engagement. Conditions in the West Bank remain tense, while fresh reports have surfaced detailing the severity of military tactics employed in Gaza. If the BoP intends to establish credibility, it must address these concerns in concrete terms.
In the West Bank, the Israeli cabinet has reportedly approved new regulations permitting settlers to purchase land in occupied areas — a move widely regarded as contrary to international law. The UN human rights chief has warned that such steps could make the prospect of a viable Palestinian state increasingly unattainable. Critics argue that these policies further entrench the status quo and complicate efforts toward a two-state solution.
Several Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, have condemned what they describe as continued Israeli expansionist policies in the West Bank. Separately, an investigation by Al Jazeera has alleged the use of internationally prohibited thermal and thermobaric weapons in Gaza, reportedly supplied in part by the United States. The report claims that such weapons, which generate extreme heat and can leave minimal physical remains, resulted in significant civilian casualties. These allegations, if verified, raise serious humanitarian and legal questions.
Given the historical trauma endured by Jewish communities — including atrocities committed during the Holocaust — observers note the deep moral weight such accusations carry. Israel has long faced scrutiny over its military operations, with human rights organisations frequently raising concerns about potential violations of international law.
In light of these developments, participating Muslim states are expected to push for a firm and unified stance at the BoP meeting. They are likely to call for an immediate halt to settlement expansion in the West Bank and for independent investigations into the reported use of banned weaponry. It is also being noted that hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza since last October’s ceasefire, underscoring the fragility of the truce.
Rather than advancing ambitious redevelopment visions for Gaza, critics argue that the BoP should prioritise an immediate cessation of violence, outline a credible path toward a sustainable Palestinian state, and promote accountability mechanisms acceptable under international law. Yet with Israel also involved in the forum, and given Washington’s longstanding strategic alignment with Tel Aviv, expectations of decisive outcomes remain cautious. Without substantive action, the BoP risks being viewed as largely symbolic rather than solution-oriented