The Trump administration has extended an invitation to Russia and Belarus to be part of a proposed “peace commission” for Gaza, as reported by officials from both nations on Monday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned in Moscow that Russian President Vladimir Putin is weighing the invitation. “President Putin received the offer through diplomatic channels and we are currently reviewing all aspects of this proposal,” Peskov stated, with TASS reporting that Russia is hoping to reach out to the U.S. for further clarification.
In a similar response, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed they had also received the invitation, expressing readiness to participate in the commission’s work. They are optimistic about the potential expansion of the commission’s goals beyond what was initially outlined.
Other nations like Argentina, Jordan, Canada, India, Egypt, Hungary, and Vietnam also indicated they had received invitations from the White House over the weekend.
As of now, the State Department and the White House have not provided a complete list of all countries invited, leaving some uncertainty.
The White House released details recently about the next steps in the peace initiative, referring to President Trump’s plan for Gaza and announcing a senior international figure to oversee governance and development efforts in the area.
The Peace Commission is expected to be instrumental in implementing all points of the President’s plan, focusing on strategic oversight and mobilizing international support during the transition from conflict to peace and development.
Trump is set to chair the commission alongside notable figures, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and billionaire Mark Rowan. According to a draft charter, any country aiming for permanent membership in the Gaza peace commission would be required to contribute a fee of $1 billion.
On another note, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicated that the formation of a separate Gaza Executive Committee, which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali al-Tawadi, had not been coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policies.
