By Quds News Network
Occupied Palestine (QNN)- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Gaza, has accepted an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join the so-called “Board of Peace” under Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, raising serious concerns about the board’s objectivity after two years of genocide.
Netanyahu’s Office announced on social media on Wednesday that Netanyahu is to join the initiative, despite the fact that it was unveiled as part of phase two of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
[https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/2013879902152347768]
Trump officially announced on Saturday the architecture of the “Board of Peace”, which is expected to “fulfill” Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, days after US envoy Steve Witkoff launched “phase two” of the US-brokered plan to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The White House detailed a three-tiered power structure, with a US-led “Board of Peace” composed of billionaires and figures close to Israel at the top.
Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, who has been named the “High Representative for the Board of Peace”, will oversee the transition of rule in Gaza to a Palestinian administration of technocrats.
The White House also announced the formation of a “Gaza Executive Board”, which will work with the Office of the High Representative and the Palestinian technocratic administration named the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
While Washington frames this as a roadmap for “reconstruction and prosperity”, the exclusion of Palestinians from the top decision-making body suggests they will have little say in deciding the future governance structure. At the bottom of the hierarchy lies the only Palestinian component: NCAG.
On Sunday, Netanyahu objected to the board and said the formation of this executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel”.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a return to “full war” and “voluntary migration” rather than handing Gaza to a board involving Turkey, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for building settlements in Gaza and returning to the genocide.
Numerous world leaders have been invited to join the body, including Russia, Qatar, Turkey, Canada, France, UAE, Argentina,
Despite the US-led nature of the plan, the inclusion of representatives from Turkey and Qatar has faced opposition from Israel.
Bloomberg News reported on Sunday that the Trump administration has asked countries to contribute at least $1bn to become permanent members. A non-permanent membership would remain free.
So far, the UAR, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Argentina and Belarus have agreed to take part.
21 January 2026
Source: countercurrents.org