Trump Launches ‘Board of Peace’ at Davos, Signals Ambitious Role in Gaza and Beyond

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump formally launched his long-anticipated Board of Peace on Thursday during a signing ceremony held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, unveiling an international body he said could eventually rival the United Nations.

Representatives from at least 18 nations joined Trump on stage, including Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Jordan, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Hungary, and Indonesia, among others. The board’s initial mandate will focus on maintaining and solidifying the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip, with broader global ambitions envisioned once the body is fully established.

“This can be something very, very unique for the world,” Trump said, declaring that the board would seek to end “decades of suffering” in the Middle East and beyond. “The first steps toward a brighter day for the Middle East and a much safer future for the world are unfolding right before your very eyes.”

Trump said the Board of Peace would operate in coordination with the United Nations, while sharply criticizing the UN’s historical record on conflict resolution. “I’ve always said the United Nations has tremendous potential,” he remarked, adding that it has often failed to act decisively enough. He also asserted that once the board is fully formed, it would have broad latitude to act on global conflicts.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during the ceremony that the charter establishing the Board of Peace is now in full force, officially designating it as an international organization.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff told attendees that Trump had “created a sense of hope” for Gaza’s future, crediting the administration with brokering a peace deal and securing the return of hostages, with one remaining to be recovered. Witkoff thanked regional leaders from Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel for their involvement in the process.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally accepted Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace earlier this week, describing the body as “like a new United Nations,” while emphasizing that its immediate focus remains Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the initiative as “not just a Board of Peace, but a board of action,” saying it represents a new model for resolving conflicts and could eventually be applied to other regions of the world.

The ceremony also featured a video message from Ali Shaath, head of Gaza’s newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a technocratic body intended to replace Hamas in governing the territory. Shaath announced plans to reopen the Rafah Crossing next week, a move Israeli officials said remains contingent on security cabinet approval and the return of the final hostage’s remains.

While Trump insisted that “everyone wants to be a part” of the board, several traditional U.S. allies declined to participate, citing concerns over its scope and authority. Nevertheless, Trump dismissed the skepticism, telling attendees they were “the most powerful people in the world,” and reiterated his belief that the board could succeed where existing international institutions have failed.

As the Board of Peace begins its work, Gaza remains the proving ground for what Trump called an effort “for the world,” signaling an experiment in global diplomacy that could reshape post-war governance in the Middle East and beyond.

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