Trump Hosts First Meeting of International ‘Board of Peace’

Israel was represented at the event by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who stood alongside Qatar’s prime minister.

By United with Israel Staff

President Donald Trump on Thursday convened the first meeting of his newly established “Board of Peace,” an initiative he says is intended to broker and stabilize conflict resolutions in Gaza and beyond.

Trump initially proposed the body last September while outlining his plan to end Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The initiative has since expanded into a broader international framework aimed at addressing major global conflicts, with Trump personally serving as chair.

According to the board’s charter, member states serve three-year terms, though countries contributing at least $1 billion toward its activities may receive permanent membership status.

The White House announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior adviser Jared Kushner will serve on the founding Executive Board.

During the meeting, Trump praised Witkoff’s diplomatic role, saying he is respected across multiple fronts. “Everyone likes him. Ukraine likes him. The Europeans like him. Russia likes him,” Trump said, portraying the envoy as a key figure in ongoing negotiations.

Trump also addressed rising tensions with Iran, stressing the need for a meaningful agreement while warning of consequences if diplomacy fails.

“We have to reach a real deal with Iran,” he said. “If there is no deal, bad things will happen.” He added that past military action against Iran’s nuclear program reshaped regional dynamics and helped open the door to broader cooperation in the Middle East, suggesting developments related to a possible agreement could become clear within the coming days.

The president offered unusually warm praise for Qatar’s leadership, calling Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani a strong partner despite criticism often directed at Doha. Trump said Qatar and other regional actors had played an important role in mediation efforts and humanitarian coordination.

Officials said members associated with the Board of Peace have already contributed approximately $7 billion toward a Gaza reconstruction fund. Trump also announced a separate initiative involving FIFA, which has reportedly raised $75 million to invest in sports programs in Gaza, with prominent international soccer figures expected to participate in future projects.

Israel was represented at the event by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who stood alongside Qatar’s prime minister and Turkey’s representative during the presentation of the board’s members, reflecting the administration’s effort to assemble a broad regional coalition around postwar stabilization efforts.

Separately, officials involved in Gaza’s security restructuring said initial steps are underway to establish a new Palestinian civilian policing force. International envoy Nikolay Mladenov announced that recruitment began earlier in the day, with roughly 2,000 Gazans already registering for training.

According to Gen. Jasper Jeffers, commander of the Gaza stabilization mission, Egypt and Jordan are expected to oversee training for the new force.

While questions remain about implementation and long-term viability, the initiative signals Washington’s effort to move beyond ceasefire negotiations toward a wider framework aimed at preventing future conflicts and stabilizing the region after months of war.