Kathmandu — Under an agreement reached with the Peace Board formed at the initiative of US President Donald Trump, Hamas has reportedly agreed to fully disarm. The Board termed this a historic agreement and stated that it includes a plan for the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, Israel, which controls about two-thirds of the Gaza region, has not officially responded to this development.
This initiative was first made public in late September 2025. It is considered a key component of the 20-point peace plan presented by Trump, aimed at ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and managing the reconstruction of Gaza. Later, the UN Security Council also welcomed this proposal. However, because the Board’s charter does not explicitly mention Gaza or Palestinian territory, concerns have been expressed that it could replace certain roles traditionally performed by the United Nations.
Formally launched on January 22 during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Peace Board features a provision making Trump himself its lifelong chairman. This grants him sweeping authority over major decisions of the Board.
Trump has presented it as a new international mechanism for resolving global conflicts. Becoming a permanent member of the Board requires paying a fee of $1 billion. While the White House invited 60 countries to join, more than 20 countries—including Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt—have agreed to participate. However, major European allies of the US, such as the UK and France, have not joined. China and Russia have also opted out. According to Trump, the funds collected from membership fees will be spent on the reconstruction of Gaza.
During the Board’s first meeting in February, member nations pledged $7 billion in assistance for Gaza’s reconstruction following Hamas’s disarmament, Trump said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also stated that collaboration with the Board is ongoing regarding Gaza-related issues. Earlier this month, a Board official informed that a model zone focused on humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians would be established in Gaza.
Two executive bodies have been formed under the main Peace Board. The Executive Board will handle decisions related to diplomacy and investment, while another body will oversee a Palestinian technical group coordinating the temporary administration and reconstruction of Gaza.
Trump will lead the nine-member Executive Board. Its members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others.
However, the initiative faces sharp criticism because no Palestinian representative has been included in either of the two executive bodies.
According to a joint assessment released by the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank, reconstructing Gaza is estimated to cost more than $70 billion. The UN states that nearly 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been completely destroyed or damaged. The war has caused immense loss of life and property, leaving hundreds of thousands of displaced citizens still facing severe shortages of shelter, food, and basic services.
Since its formation, the Peace Board has been surrounded by controversy regarding its legitimacy, representation, and potential impact on the role of the United Nations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas termed it Trump’s personal international platform, remarking that the Board is accountable neither to the Palestinians nor to the United Nations. Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti also expressed dissatisfaction, stating that Palestinians lack adequate representation in the Board’s structure.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the Board was formed without any coordination with Israel and goes against its policy. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called it a diplomatic failure for Israel, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded that Gaza should be liberated from Hamas rather than being managed by an administrative committee.
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