Trump to lead signing of charter for Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos

US President Donald Trump is set to formally announce the first charter of his so-called “Board of Peace“, a body for resolving international conflicts with a $1bn price tag for permanent membership.
The board, which Trump will launch in what has been billed as a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza. But a draft of the charter does not appear to limit its role to the Palestinian territory.
Which countries have declined to join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’?
Several European countries have said they will not join the US-led so-called “Board of Peace” initiative, at least for now, citing concerns over its scope and its relationship with the United Nations.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris backs the US peace plan but not a new organisation, saying: “Yes to implementing the peace plan presented by the president of the United States, which we wholeheartedly support, but no to creating an organisation as it has been presented, which would replace the United Nations.”

Norway also declined the invitation, with a government official saying the proposal raises unanswered questions that require further dialogue with Washington.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Stockholm would not sign up “as the text stands right now”.

Slovenia has taken the strongest stance so far, with Prime Minister Robert Golob warning the board’s mandate could undermine the international order based on the UN Charter.

What is the ‘Board of Peace’?
First proposed in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, the board was initially framed as a mechanism to support the administration, reconstruction and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip.

The White House formally announced the creation of the BoP last week. However, the organisation’s 11-page charter, comprising eight chapters and 13 articles, does not mention Gaza once.

Instead, it proposes a broad mandate for a new international organisation that “seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict”.

The governance structure has three layers: the BoP, an executive board and a chairman with sweeping authority.

According to the White House, a “founding executive council” sits at the top. The Board of Peace votes on budgets, policy and senior appointments, while the executive board, which consists of seven members, is responsible for implementing the mission.

Members of the executive board include former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The chairman is Trump himself. He serves as the final authority on the interpretation of the charter and holds veto power over key decisions, including membership removal and executive board actions.

What’s happening in Gaza and the West Bank?
The Israeli military has arrested at least six Palestinians overnight after raiding towns in Jericho, Bethlehem and Tubas governorates of the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency.
At least 11 Palestinians, including two children and three journalists, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, with six others injured, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
More than 480 Palestinians – including at least 169 children and 64 women – have been killed since the ceasefire with Israel came into effect in October 2025, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.