President Trump on Thursday launched his Board of Peace, a body designed to oversee the implementation of the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement and settle international conflicts.
Mr. Trump and top officials signed a charter for the body alongside leaders from 20 countries that have agreed to join.
“Well, this is a very exciting day,” Mr. Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The board is overseen by Mr. Trump and was created to rebuild Gaza after the Israeli operation against Palestinian militants in Hamas who attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Palestinian official Ali Shaath announced that the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza would reopen next week after being shuttered for much of the war.
“Many things are happening, many good things,” Mr. Trump said.
The president predicted great things for Gaza.
“I’m a real estate person at heart, and it’s all about location, and I said, look at this location on the sea. Look at this beautiful piece of property, what it could be for so many people,” Mr. Trump said.
Jared Kushner, who is playing a key U.S. role in the Gaza peace process, presented plans for investment in a “New Rafah,” including housing and medical facilities, and the “New Gaza,” including coastal tourism, a transportation hub and “energy and digital infrastructure.”
“Once this starts going, we think there should be 100% full employment and opportunity for everybody there,” Mr. Kushner, who is the president’s son-in-law, said at the Davos event. “We think that this gives the Gazan people an opportunity to live their aspirations. But it all starts with security, and it all starts with governance.”
Mr. Trump has characterized himself as the consummate peacemaker during his second term, boasting he helped to end several conflicts around the world and brought peace to the Middle East with his Gaza plan and efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
“Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk,” Mr. Trump said during his address to the board.
Membership on the Board of Peace is in flux, with nations invited to purchase permanent seats for $1 billion. Adversaries such as China and Russia were reportedly invited to join.
However, some Western allies are reluctant to sign on, fearing the board would undermine the United Nations or have an ill-defined mission.
Leaders from countries that agreed to join – Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan – attended the event in Davos.
An earlier list from the White House included Belgium, though Deputy Belgian Prime Minister Maxime Prevot said that was not true.
“Belgium has NOT signed the Charter of the Board of Peace. This announcement is incorrect,” he wrote on X. “We wish for a common and coordinated European response. As many European countries, we have reservations to the proposal.”
