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The February 19 meeting in Washington comes as the board's mission has expanded beyond Gaza and raised international skepticism.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is planning the first meeting of the so-called “Peace Board” in Washington this month, according to a US official and a diplomat from an invited country. The meeting comes at a time when the multilateral organization, created to resolve global conflicts, faces ongoing questions about its mandate and role.
According to information obtained by CNN, the US has sent out invitations for the February 19 event, which is expected to be held at the US Institute of Peace, renamed by Trump in his name. The board is chaired by the US president himself.
The Peace Board was originally conceived as a limited structure to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, devastated by the war between Israel and Hamas. However, according to a draft charter distributed with the invitations, its mission has been expanded to address conflicts around the world. The document no longer mentions Gaza.
A US official said the meeting is also partly aimed at fundraising, noting that details are still being worked out.
The White House has not commented publicly on the matter.
The meeting, first reported by Axios, will be the first since a signing ceremony held last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos. So far, about two dozen countries have joined the Peace Board.
The initiative has been met with skepticism, particularly over the possibility that it aims to replace the role of the United Nations. Most of the US's European allies have not joined, while Israel has yet to formally sign the charter, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing a willingness to do so.
It is not clear which countries will participate in the February 19 meeting and at what level of representation.
The meeting comes as the US administration is trying to advance Phase 2 of its peace plan for Gaza and secure support for reconstruction. The US announced the start of the next phase of the ceasefire in mid-January, but has yet to present concrete plans for one of the most complex issues: the demilitarization of Hamas.
In Davos, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, presented a visionary plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, including massive investment and urban development along the coast. Kushner stated that the plan has no other alternative and that its implementation depends on the demilitarization of Hamas, without providing details on the mechanisms for implementation.
Members of the Peace Board include, among others, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Hungary, Morocco, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Argentina, Paraguay, as well as Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Vietnam.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister's office, Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Trump in Washington this week, with the main focus being negotiations regarding Iran. /Adapted from CNN /
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