Peace Commission Meeting Scheduled in Washington
President Donald Trump is set to lead the inaugural meeting of the Peace Commission on Thursday in Washington, a group formed with the aim of stabilizing the Gaza Strip.
Reports indicate that 47 countries have accepted invitations to this first gathering. Notably, neighboring nations like Israel and Jordan will be in attendance, alongside more distant allies of Trump’s administration, such as Paraguay and Hungary.
Interestingly, many influential European nations, including France, Germany, and the UK, have chosen not to participate despite receiving invitations. The European Union is represented, technically, but only through the Mediterranean Commissioner, who is attending merely as an observer. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a strong supporter of Trump’s policies, is the most senior European leader expected at the meeting.
Other attendees are anticipated to include Argentines, some of whom were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, as well as Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, plus Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Canada will not be represented, with President Trump rescinding their invitation after comments made by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump also invited the largest nations in the BRICS group—Brazil, Russia, China, and India—but reports suggest none accepted the invitation publicly. Brazil’s government has expressed confusion, fearing that the initiative might diminish the United Nations’ authority, where anti-Israel sentiments often dominate resolutions.
Back in January, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump announced the establishment of the Peace Commission and introduced members during a private gathering.
He outlined the commission’s original goal: to stabilize Gaza and reduce Hamas’s influence. “This board has the chance to become one of the most significant institutions ever created,” he noted at Davos, expressing his honor in chairing it.
While Hamas continues to hold some control in the region, recent conflicts have diminished its grip on Gaza following the devastating attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,000 civilian deaths. Israel has since recovered all hostages taken during that incident and is now focusing on peacebuilding in the area.
Several key issues are expected to dominate the discussions in this week’s meeting, including fundraising for Gaza’s reconstruction and the development of an international stabilization force aimed at preventing Hamas from re-establishing a foothold.
U.S. officials have mentioned that Trump will reveal plans for multiple countries to send troops to support this stabilization force. Reports indicate that Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, may take a lead role in forming this force.
Additional reports suggest that the Trump administration also aims to construct a large military base in Gaza to facilitate the operations of these stabilization forces.
According to documentation reviewed by a British newspaper, plans are in place for a military base accommodating 5,000 personnel on over 350 acres. Indonesia has reportedly offered to send up to 8,000 troops, and their president is among four Southeast Asian leaders expected to be present at the founding session.
Regarding funding, Trump has claimed that member states have pledged upwards of $5 billion for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, alongside the commitment of thousands of military personnel from participating countries.
Hamas is not expected to take part in the Peace Commission meeting. Khalid Machar, a prominent leader within Hamas, stated this month that the group remains unwilling to disarm, insisting on the necessity of their resistance to what they view as occupation.
Though the immediate focus is on Gaza, there are indications from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the commission’s scope could extend beyond the Middle East.
Rubio remarked on the tendency of similar initiatives to produce more speeches than actions. “This is a group of leaders aiming for action,” he said, alluding to the need for tangible results rather than scripted statements.
