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Informist, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

NEW DELHI – US President Donald Trump Thursday said his initiative, the 'Board of Peace', launched in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, is going to play a key role is ensuring peace in the world, beginning with Gaza.

"The world is a region, and we're going to have peace in the world," Trump said in his opening remarks before the signing of the document.

Countries that have agreed to join the initiative include Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordon, Bahrain, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

India is still considering the proposal to join the body. Other major countries that have not committed yet are Russia, China, Germany, Italy, the EU's executive arm, Singapore, and Ukraine.

Trump, the chairman of the Board of Peace, said it would work with the United Nations to end conflict in the world. The UN, he said, has "tremendous potential" but had not used it fully. "In the eight wars that I stopped, I never spoke to the UN," he said. Trump added that the combination of the Board of Peace with the UN "will be unique" for the world.

He said that the Board of Peace, one of the most consequential bodies ever created, will "spread out to other things as we succeed with Gaza". "We can do numerous things once this board is completely formed."

"We are committed to ensuring Gaza is demilitarised, properly governed, and beautifully rebuilt," the US president said as he reiterated his previous day's threat that if Hamas did not surrender and become part of the peace plan, it will be wiped out. A few minutes later, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, showed a computer-generated picture of 'New Gaza' with coastal tourism.

Kushner said the redevelopment plans will be executed in phases, including a push on workforce housing, where he suggested could also be a lot of industry, "100% employment, and opportunity for everyone".

GAZA'S RAFAH CROSSING

Shortly after the signing of the document formalising the existence of the Board of Peace, came the first piece of good news: Gaza's Rafah crossing--the major gateway for humanitarian aid, essential goods, and medical evacuations--will reopen next week.

A video message from Ali Shaath, leader of the Palestinian technocratic committee, broke the news to the delegates at Davos. "This is a real step, and it marks a new direction," Shaath said, but added that much more work needed to be done, which is not going to be easy.

Israel had taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border in May 2024, leading to frequent closures and halts in aid delivery from Egypt's side. In October, Israel said the crossing would stay closed "until further notice", in order to put further pressure on Hamas.  End

Reported by Asim Khan

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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