Trump’s Peace Board Announcement
On December 11, 2025, President Donald Trump revealed plans for the Gaza Board of Peace, which will be appointed early next year as part of his peace initiative, with Israel and Hamas transitioning into the next phase of this proposal.
During a recent announcement, Trump stated that international leaders, including kings, presidents, and prime ministers, have shown interest in joining the board. He confidently remarked, “It’ll be one of the most legendary boards ever. Everyone wants to be on it,” emphasizing his role as the head of this initiative.
In addition to forming this board, the U.S. is also looking to gather nations to take part in the International Stabilization Force (ISF), responsible for disarming Hamas and replacing Israeli Defense Forces in parts of Gaza.
However, the U.S. has not yet disclosed which countries will contribute troops to this force, which may highlight uncertainties regarding the associated risks.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Mike Waltz, shared insights on the peace plan, stating that “the stabilization force in the Security Council resolution is authorized to [disarm Hamas].” He added that the discussions about the rules of engagement for the ISF are ongoing.
Waltz further noted, “President Trump has repeatedly said, Hamas will disarm one way or another — the easy way or the hard way.”
The next steps in Trump’s proposal include disarming Hamas and establishing a transitional Palestinian government, while also facilitating a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Board of Peace would oversee this process until the Palestinian Authority can effectively take control of the region following necessary reforms.
There are hints that the Trump administration is considering appointing a two-star American general to lead the ISF in Gaza, with information from Axios mentioning that this move should reassure Israel regarding the disarmament mission.
Some nations, including Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Egypt, were mentioned as potential contributors to the ISF. Yet, there’s uncertainty as Hamas appears reluctant to disarm.
Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal remarked, “The idea of total disarmament is unacceptable to the resistance. What is being proposed is a freeze, or storage [of weapons]… to provide guarantees against any military escalation from Gaza with the Israeli occupation.”
Another significant hurdle in achieving lasting peace lies in Israel’s resistance to a sovereign Palestinian state, a point that clashes with Trump’s peace initiative.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state, declaring that “The goal of a Palestinian state is to destroy the only Jewish state.” He emphasized that Gaza has already served as a de facto state, being used as a base for attacks against Israel.
