Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace, the Israeli leader’s office announced on social media on Wednesday
Israel’s Netanyahu will join the initiative despite the International Criminal Court having issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes in Gaza.
The Board of Peace was unveiled as part of phase two of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas to end Israel’s war on Gaza.
Board to oversee Gaza reconstruction and governance
Trump invited leaders from around the world to join the body, which he envisages would oversee “governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation” in the enclave, according to the announcement.
Trump will lead the board and control its lineup.
Netanyahu is not the only invitee wanted by the ICC for war crimes. Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to join the board on Monday, despite being indicted over Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a Putin ally, was also invited to join the group by Trump, according to reports.
UAE among board membership and executive committee
Board members include the UAE, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Argentina. The United Kingdom and the executive arm of the European Union say they have received invitations but have not yet responded.
It was not clear how many or which other leaders would receive invitations.
The executive board’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser, Robert Gabriel.
