Israeli PM Netanyahu visits to USA to joins Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

The initiative was introduced by Donald Trump in late January and is expected to focus first on the situation in Gaza. According to officials, the board will hold its first meeting on February 19

Israel has officially joined US President Donald Trump’s new international initiative called the “Board of Peace,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced during his recent visit to Washington. The announcement came after Netanyahu met with Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where documents were signed confirming Israel’s participation.

The initiative was introduced by Donald Trump in late January and is expected to focus first on the situation in Gaza. According to officials, the board will hold its first meeting on February 19 in Washington to discuss reconstruction plans and future governance arrangements for the war-affected territory.

The board was authorized under a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in November. The plan includes creating an international stabilization force for Gaza following a ceasefire agreement reached in October between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Trump’s proposal also suggests that the board could later expand its role to address conflicts in other parts of the world.

However, the initiative has drawn criticism from many experts and human rights groups. Some believe that a U.S.-led body supervising Gaza’s governance could weaken the authority of the United Nations and resemble foreign control over Palestinian territory. Concerns have also been raised because no Palestinian representatives are currently included in the board.

Reactions from other countries have been mixed. While some Middle Eastern allies of Washington have agreed to join, several Western partners have shown hesitation about participating.

Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains tense despite the ceasefire. Reports from both Palestinian and Israeli sources say hundreds of Palestinians and several Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce began. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in heavy casualties, widespread displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel maintains that its actions are in self-defense following the Hamas-led attack in 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of more than 250 hostages.