MOSCOW: The United States has extended invitations to Russia, Israel and Poland to join a proposed “Board of Peace”, an international body that aims to resolve conflicts and oversee post-war reconstruction in Gaza, as Washington continues efforts to build broad participation for the initiative.
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Central Asian leaders reacted swiftly. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev confirmed their readiness to join, according to their press secretaries. Both leaders had already been courted by US President Donald Trump and invited to attend the G20 summit in Miami.
The Kremlin also confirmed receipt of an invitation on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was seeking to “clarify all the nuances” of Trump’s offer but did not indicate whether President Vladimir Putin intends to accept. Putin has previously praised Trump’s diplomatic efforts, calling them constructive.
Israel has also been invited, though officials have not disclosed whether the invitation will be taken up. Poland’s presidential office confirmed that President Karol Nawrocki has been asked to join as well.
London signalled its interest in participating. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters that Britain was engaged in discussions with allies about the terms of involvement and was prepared to assist in the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which focuses on demilitarisation and reconstruction.
However, the initiative has drawn internal criticism within Israel. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shut down the US-backed Civil Military Coordination Centre, arguing that foreign involvement undermines Israeli authority in post-conflict planning. Smotrich framed the dispute as a choice between “us or them”, pressing Netanyahu to assert full Israeli control and reject international influence.
Netanyahu has not publicly responded, though his office has previously objected to Turkish and Qatari roles in the related Gaza Executive Board, which falls under the Board of Peace structure.
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A draft charter describes the Board of Peace as an international organisation with 60 invited members and permanent membership for countries contributing $1 billion. The initiative forms part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Gaza war, which entered its reconstruction phase after an October ceasefire.