Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited by US President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace for Gaza, government sources told CNN-News18 on Sunday.
The board has been set up as part of a United
Nations-backed US plan to demilitarise and rebuild Gaza after two years of devastating conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. The panel will be chaired by US President Donald Trump.
Sources said President Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi on January 16. He is among several world leaders, including Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Canadian PM Mark Carney, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be invited to the board.
The White House said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern the war-wracked territory, and a second “executive board” that appears designed to have a more advisory role.
“Executive Board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation,” the White House said.
Who Are Other Members Of The Board?
“It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed. The Members of the Board will be announced shortly, but I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Thursday.
He later announced the appointment of US State Secretary Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the founding members of the peace board. Additionally, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will be part of the Board of Peace, according to the White House. CEO of Apollo Global Management, Marc Rowan, and US Deputy National Security Adviser, Robert Gabriel, are also on the list.
READ MORE: Who Is Ajay Banga, Indian-Origin World Bank President Chosen By Trump For Gaza Peace Board
Additionally, Nickolay Mladenov, an Executive Board member, will serve as the High Representative for Gaza and act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
Trump had already named himself chair of the body while advancing a contentious vision for economic development in the Palestinian territory. However, the plan drew opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the announcement of the board’s composition was contrary to Israel’s policy.
The US-backed Gaza peace plan first came into force on October 10, facilitating the return of all the hostages held by Hamas and an end to the fighting between the Palestinian militant group and Israel in the besieged territory. The second phase of the peace plan is now underway.
