by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – The United States has secured commitments from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany to have their leaders join U.S. President Donald Trump on a proposed “Board of Peace” tasked with overseeing the postwar management of Gaza, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
The participation of six countries, spanning key Middle Eastern stakeholders and major European powers, marks a significant step in building international backing for the Trump administration’s Gaza peace framework beyond the initial ceasefire phase. However, U.S., Israeli and Arab officials cautioned that agreement to join the board does not automatically translate into full political, military or financial support for the broader plan.
Washington is seeking to expand the panel further, aiming to add roughly half a dozen more leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump publicly expressed hope last month that the Saudi leader would join the board, though Riyadh is reportedly holding off until there is greater clarity on conditions inside Gaza and Hamas’s posture toward disarmament.
Israeli officials have voiced continued resistance to Turkish involvement in postwar Gaza governance, particularly within the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF), which the Trump plan envisions gradually replacing Israel Defense Forces control in parts of the Strip. U.S. officials are expected to intensify pressure on Jerusalem in the coming weeks to accept a compromise that could include Turkish participation at the leadership level rather than boots on the ground.
Efforts to secure troop and logistical commitments for the ISF have proven more challenging. While the U.S. outlined participation options at a recent Central Command-hosted conference in Doha, unresolved questions surrounding Hamas disarmament and the force’s mandate remain a major obstacle. Washington has indicated the ISF would initially deploy along the ceasefire boundary rather than in Hamas-controlled areas and would rely on a gradual disarmament process rather than direct confrontation.
Italy has renewed its willingness to contribute forces, though like other potential contributors it is seeking further clarity before formally committing. U.S. officials are planning a follow-up conference in Washington in mid-January, though diplomats expressed skepticism about deploying the force as early as that month. Trump has already delayed announcing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, signaling it will come sometime early next year.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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