New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the proposed Board of Peace for Gaza, a new international body envisaged under the US-led Gaza peace plan.
In a letter dated January 16, Trump described the initiative as an effort to reshape conflict resolution in the region. “It is my great honour to invite you, as Prime Minister of the Republic of India, to join me in a critically historic and magnificent effort to solidify peace in the Middle East, and at the same time to embark on a bold new approach in resolving global conflict,” he wrote, referring to the war that began on October 7, 2023.
Trump said the proposal builds on a plan he announced last year. “On September 29, 2025, I announced a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, an extraordinary 20-point roadmap quickly embraced by all world leaders, including major heads of state across the Arab world, Israel and Europe. In furtherance of this plan, on November 17, the United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly adopted Resolution 2803, welcoming and endorsing this vision,” the letter stated.
Calling for implementation to begin, Trump added, “Now it is time to turn all of these dreams into reality. At the heart of the plan is the Board of Peace, the most impressive and consequential board ever assembled, which will be established as a new international organization and transitional governing administration.”
He said the board would consist of countries willing to take responsibility for Gaza’s future. “Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building lasting peace, an honour reserved for those prepared to lead by example and brilliantly invest in a secure and prosperous future,” Trump wrote, adding that partner countries would be convened soon.
The Board of Peace was unveiled as part of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel and Hamas agreed to Trump’s peace plan in October last year. According to the White House, the board will provide strategic oversight, mobilise international resources and ensure accountability as “Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development”.
The 20-point plan focuses on turning Gaza into a de-radicalised, terror-free zone that does not threaten neighbouring countries, along with large-scale redevelopment of the territory.
An executive committee has already been announced to carry forward the board’s vision, though Israel has objected, saying the committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy”. Members of this committee include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, US special envoy to the Middle-East Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and World Bank president Ajay Banga. The committee also includes Marc Rowan of Apollo Global Management and US national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
The executive committee will supervise another administrative body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
According to AP, several countries have also been invited to join the board, including Pakistan, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania. Pakistan confirmed receiving the invitation. “The Prime Minister of Pakistan has received the invitation from the President of the United States to join the Board of Peace on Gaza,” said Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” he added.
AP further reported that a contribution of US$1 billion would secure permanent membership on the board, while a three-year appointment would not require any financial commitment. The funds raised are expected to be used for rebuilding Gaza.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has already accepted the invitation, according to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. Orban is among Trump’s strongest supporters in Europe.
The board is also expected to include representatives from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, all involved in monitoring the ceasefire. Turkey, which has strained ties with Israel but maintains relations with Hamas, is seen as a potential interlocutor in efforts to persuade the group to relinquish control in Gaza and disarm.
The US is likely to announce the final list of board members in the coming days, possibly on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The board will oversee the next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that began on October 10 moves into a more complex second phase, involving the formation of a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
BI Bureau
