E. Mark Windle 27 August 2026
At the centre of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza’s recovery sits the Board of Peace (BoP). It seems former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s suggestion that Gaza should be placed under international administration lay at the roots of the concept, though the Trump administration claimed they were already working on a related plan. By January 2026, the BoP charter was signed and Trump had firmly installed himself as Chairman—with no time limit on his term of office, and a set of dictatorial rights to boot. The Politico and Mondoweiss “Bored of Peace” play on words may be a little tired now, but so is the claim that Trump’s organisation is a vehicle for calm in the Middle East.
OLD BOYS CLUB
One of the first steps was to commandeer the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC as BoP HQ, renaming the building the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. This was to respect and reflect “the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history”, announced the Department of State. “The President of Peace”, said Marco Rubio.
Presidential egocentricity aside, many view the BoP as a dangerous entity that legitimises superpower control, investment desires and neocolonial interests in the Middle East. One commonly expressed opinion is that Executive Board level membership is nothing but an old boys’ club, comprised of the financially elite and individuals with longstanding personal or business relationships with Trump.
MEMBERSHIP INVITATIONS
To date, the BoP has invited 62 countries to join as members. Of those that have been, less than half have accepted. Most European countries are either ‘observers’ only, have made no formal response or—in the case of nations standing in solidarity with Palestine—have publicly broadcasted their refusal to join. The Pope said no too, as the Vatican aligns itself only with the United Nations. Palestine didn’t get the memo. Israel initially rejected the invitation. For one thing, its rival Türkiye is a board member. Israel has also never been a fan of phased bilateral disarmament, which features in the BoP’s 15-Point Gaza Roadmap. At present, Israel actually is a member. When it is considered that over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,000 injured since the so-called ‘ceasefire’ was announced in October 2025, the irony is sublime.
The BoP says it concerns itself with high level, strategic and investment issues concerning Gaza’s recovery. In its capacity as overseer of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, it has made a number of contentious statements regarding aid and has directed or at least endorsed questionable decisions regarding humanitarian aid entry. Journalists and human rights advocates on the ground have repeatedly disputed BoP declarations that the amount of food, shelter and medicine entering Gaza are meeting the needs of the population.
DIVERTING DONATIONS FROM UNRWA
While the United Nations has its own internal issues, the ultimate worry is that the BoP seems keen to replace it and its related organisations. At the Board’s inception, Trump commented that may well become the case. Indeed, the US government is on record as urging international donors to channel funding through the BoP rather than to UNRWA.
One billion dollars of US taxpayer funds were also transferred to a BoP account for humanitarian use, yet it showed zero balance. It later transpired that the money had been forwarded to a separate private JP Morgan account. Even for individuals who thought it wise to place faith in what the BoP could deliver, trust has been weakened by the lack of transparency in fiscal governance and funding reserved for food, shelter and other aid.
The people of Gaza deserve a solid pathway for its short and long-term future. That’s not being provided by a fictitious ceasefire, proposals that lack detail and consultation, or by a president hellbent on chasing Nobel Peace prizes, monetising the Middle East and starting wars everywhere. Securing Palestinian welfare is way down the list of immediate ambitions.
(Excerpt adapted from the book “Where The Olive Trees Grow” by E. Mark Windle, scheduled for publication mid-2027. Why not come on the journey and support a Palestinian artist at the same time—find out more on my Crowdfunder page).
References
- Livesay B. US institute renamed after Trump. BBC News [Internet]. 2026 Dec 4 [cited 2026 Aug 27]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp39qx4ledeo
- Hassan Z, Johnson CH. The Board of Peace and funding for Gaza Reconstruction: On whose account? Carnegie Endowment for International Peace [Internet] 2026 Mar 16 [cited 2026 Jul 11]. Available from: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/03/the-board-of-peace-and-funding-for-gaza-reconstruction-on-whose-account
- Owda B (@wizard_bisan1). 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 11]. Available from: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVG9jISij1W/
- Hansler J, Atwood K. Trump says Board of Peace meant to oversee Gaza reconstruction ‘might’ replace UN. CNN [Internet]. 2026 Jan 21 [cited 2026 Jul 11]. Available from: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/20/politics/trump-gaza-board-of-peace-united-nations
- Bashir M, Abu Aoun T. US urges donors to fund Board of Peace instead of UNRWA as pressures mount on refugee agency. Madamasr [Internet]. 2026 July 7 [cited 2026 Jul 11]. Available from: https://www.madamasr.com/en/2026/07/07/news/u/us-urges-donors-to-fund-board-of-peace-instead-of-unrwa-as-pressures-mount-on-refugee-agency/
- Representative Pramila Jayapal: My amendment on Trump’s “Board of Peace” / Jayapal Foreign Affairs Committee [YouTube: video]. 2026 Jun 11 [cited 2026 Jul 11]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gndk9SWJ5M
- A Roadmap for Completing the Implementation of President Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan in Gaza — July 30, 2026. Board of Peace [Internet]. 2026 Jul 30 [cited 2026 Aug 27]. Available from: Chttps://boardofpeace.org/gaza-roadmap