New Delhi: American President Donald Trump has invited India, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday, to join the “Board of Peace”, the body formed and led by the US to oversee peace and reconstruction in Gaza.
“It is my Great Honor 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 to resolving Global Conflict!” Trump wrote in the letter shared by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
It continued: “On September 29th, 2025, I announced the 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…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 organisation and transitional governing administration.”
A person familiar with the matter confirmed India received the invitation, hours after Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed it had received the same. Vietnam confirmed its intention to participate earlier Sunday, while Jordan and Canada have also confirmed receiving invitations. New Delhi is yet to announce its decision.
The Board of Peace forms part of the second phase of the Gaza Peace Plan that Trump first proposed in September 2025. The peace plan came into effect in October 2025, as phase 1 involved observing a ceasefire in Gaza. In return, Hamas has since released all remaining Israeli hostages who were captured in the attack that began on October 7, 2023 and led to a furious response by Tel Aviv.
The Board was approved by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) through a resolution moved by the US late last year. The council, which has five permanent members, including the US, also authorised an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to operate in Gaza to ensure implementation of the peace plan. The Board, according to the resolution, can operate in the area till 2027.
On 14 January, US’s special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witcoff announced the start of the peace plan’s second phase, including appointment of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) – a 15-member technocratic committee led by Palestinian Ali Shaath.
The White House Friday also announced the establishment of the Board of Peace with a ‘Founding Executive Board’ and a separate ‘Executive Board’. Both will be led by Trump and include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Witkoff, billionaire businessman Marc Rowan and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, is also named as a member.
The Executive Board includes representatives from Turkey – Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan – the United Arab Emirates – Minister Reem Al-Hashimy – and Qatari official Ali Al-Thawadi. None of the announced boards includes a Palestinian representative, and contains only one Israeli representative, Yakir Gabay, though the US has said it will announce more members eventually.
The move to operationalise the Board of Peace and its subordinate Executive Board have faced criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Tel Aviv declaring that it “runs contrary” to the country’s policy.
“The announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which is subordinate to the Board of Peace, was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy. The Prime Minister has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on X.
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Billion-dollar membership fee
The newly established Board of Peace comes with a hefty price tag for countries seeking permanent membership – one billion US dollars – according to the draft charter circulating publicly and published by Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel.
“Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force,” the draft charter states.
The charter makes no mention of the Board’s role being specific to the Gaza Strip, indicating it could potentially operate in other conflict zones. It also appoints Trump as the “inaugural chairman” with no term limits or succession methods except voluntary resignation or incapacity as determined by a unanimous vote of the Board – essentially ensuring Trump’s control even after his second presidential term ends.
Members of the Executive Board have two-year tenures subject to the chairman’s complete discretion. The Board of Peace will remain active as long as its mandate is renewed by the chairman before 21 November of every odd-numbered calendar year, according to the draft charter.
(Edited by Prerna Madan)
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