January 16, 2026
Source: The Times of Israel, https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-charter-of-trumps-board-of-peace
The Board of Peace and related bodies authorized to oversee the Gaza ceasefire under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 have begun to take form under announcements and invitations issued by President Donald Trump’s administration. The Board of Peace is not the International Stabilization Force, which is meant to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and ensure Hamas’ disarmament. Countries supplying troops for the ISF have not been announced, nor have its rules of engagement been introduced.
For Trump, the Board of Peace is a way to intervene in more trouble spots to end conflict. He proclaimed the organization when he presented the Gaza ceasefire plan, and the United Nations endorsed its creation when it adopted that plan. But other international organizations have not offered support for the board.
Tied to the start of Phase 2 of the ceasefire plan, as announced by special Trump envoy Steve Witkoff on January 14, the Board of Peace represents the continuation of a five decades of direct U.S. involvement in mediating and implementing peace efforts in the Middle East.
“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,” Trump said on Truth Social on January 15.
Trump is leading the Board of Peace as chairman and selected its Executive Board, composed of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and six Americans, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump also named an 11-member Gaza Executive Board to advise and support the technocratic Palestinian administration, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. Palestinians are unhappy that the Gaza board includes a Cypriot-Israeli, Yakir Gabay, but no Palestinian. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has objected to the inclusion of Turkish and Qatari officials because those countries have recently been active or passive adversaries of Israel and supporters of Hamas. Turkey’s president has accused Israeli leaders of war crimes and genocide. Qatar reportedly has provided billions of dollars to Hamas and has hosted its leadership since 2012.
Trump, however, signed an executive order in September committing the United States to Qatar’s defense, and Qatar promised to invest $1.2 trillion in the United States. One could see Israel and the United States coming to loggerheads over actions promoted by Qatar and Turkey.
Although the United Nations authorized the Board of Peace specifically to oversee peace and redevelopment in Gaza and set its expiration for December 31, 2027, the proposed charter does not mention Gaza. Instead, the charter envisions a global mandate to solve conflicts with an open-ended life span. The chairman, Trump, has the option to renew the board or let it lapse each November of odd-numbered years.
Trump’s presidency ends in January 2029, but the Board of Peace charter names him and not the U.S. president as the chairman. It is unclear if the board is meant to be his post-presidency international engagement vehicle, but that option appears open if he renews the board beyond 2027.
The charter, distributed with invitations to join the Board of Peace, says membership lasts three years for any state that accepts Trump’s invitation. That membership is renewable at the discretion of Trump, who also can revoke it at any time. But any state that pays $1 billion will gain permanent Board of Peace membership. The chairman-appointed Executive Board manages the Board of Peace’s finances with the chairman’s approval, meaning that Trump could control how billions of dollars are spent. That arrangement fits with Trump’s foreign policy architecture, in which “paying to play” is integral to his initiatives.
Coming after Trump issued an order January 5 to withdraw the United States from 31 U.N. agencies and 35 other international organizations, the plan for the Board of Peace as a “more nimble and effective international peace-building body” sounds like a U.S.-dominated alternative to the United Nations itself. Its representatives are heads of state or government who will gather once a year, much like the U.N. General Assembly, or more often at Trump’s discretion.
The chairman, Trump, has the sole power to invite states to join the board and to remove them, sets meeting agendas, can override board decisions, selects the Executive Board responsible for most of the Board of Peace’s efforts, has final authority to interpret and apply the charter, picks his own successor, serves until he chooses to resign, and, through his control of the Executive Board, has discretion over Board of Peace spending.
Trump has not yet nominated someone to fill the most important role other than the chairman, the Executive Board’s chief executive, who will oversee day-to-day operations while Trump handles the other duties of U.S. president.
— Michael Jacobs and Ken Stein, January 18, 2026
PREAMBLE
Declaring that durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed;
Recognizing that lasting peace takes root when people are empowered to take ownership and responsibility over their future;
Affirming that only sustained, results-oriented partnership, grounded in shared burdens and commitments, can secure peace in places where it has for too long proven elusive;
Lamenting that too many approaches to peace-building foster perpetual dependency, and institutionalize crisis rather than leading people beyond it;
Emphasizing the need for a more nimble and effective international peace-building body; and
Resolving to assemble a coalition of willing States committed to practical cooperation and effective action, judgment guided and justice honored, the Parties hereby adopt the Charter for the Board of Peace.
CHAPTER I — PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS
Article 1: Mission
The Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. The Board of Peace shall undertake such peace-building functions in accordance with international law and as may be approved in accordance with this Charter, including the development and dissemination of best practices capable of being applied by all nations and communities seeking peace.
CHAPTER II — MEMBERSHIP
Article 2.1: Member States
Membership in the Board of Peace is limited to States invited to participate by the Chairman, and commences upon notification that the State has consented to be bound by this Charter, in accordance with Chapter XI.
Article 2.2: Member State Responsibilities
(a) Each Member State shall be represented on the Board of Peace by its Head of State or Government.
(b) Each Member State shall support and assist with Board of Peace operations consistent with their respective domestic legal authorities. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to give the Board of Peace jurisdiction within the territory of Member States, or require Member States to participate in a particular peace-building mission, without their consent.
(c) Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force.
Article 2.3: Termination of Membership
Membership shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) expiration of a three-year term, subject to Article 2.2(c) and renewal by the Chairman; (ii) withdrawal, consistent with Article 2.4; (iii) a removal decision by the Chairman, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of Member States; or (iv) dissolution of the Board of Peace pursuant to Chapter X. A Member State whose membership terminates shall also cease to be a Party to the Charter, but such State may be invited again to become a Member State, in accordance with Article 2.1.
Article 2.4: Withdrawal
Any Member State may withdraw from the Board of Peace with immediate effect by providing written notice to the Chairman.
CHAPTER III — GOVERNANCE
Article 3.1: The Board of Peace
(a) The Board of Peace consists of its Member States.
(b) The Board of Peace shall vote on all proposals on its agenda, including with respect to the annual budgets, the establishment of subsidiary entities, the appointment of senior executive officers, and major policy determinations, such as the approval of international agreements and the pursuit of new peace-building initiatives.
(c) The Board of Peace shall convene voting meetings at least annually and at such additional times and locations as the Chairman deems appropriate. The agenda at such meetings shall be set by the Executive Board, subject to notice and comment by Member States and approval by the Chairman.
(d) Each Member State shall have one vote on the Board of Peace.
(e) Decisions shall be made by a majority of the Member States present and voting, subject to the approval of the Chairman, who may also cast a vote in his capacity as Chairman in the event of a tie.
(f) The Board of Peace shall also hold regular non-voting meetings with its Executive Board at which Member States may submit recommendations and guidance with respect to the Executive Board’s activities, and at which the Executive Board shall report to the Board of Peace on the Executive Board’s operations and decisions. Such meetings shall be convened on at least a quarterly basis, with the time and place of said meetings determined by the Chief Executive of the Executive Board.
(g) Member States may elect to be represented by an alternate high-ranking official at all meetings, subject to approval by the Chairman.
(h) The Chairman may issue invitations to relevant regional economic integration organizations to participate in the proceedings of the Board of Peace under such terms and conditions as he deems appropriate.
Article 3.2: Chairman
(a) Donald J. Trump shall serve as inaugural Chairman of the Board of Peace, and he shall separately serve as inaugural representative of the United States of America, subject only to the provisions of Chapter III.
(b) The Chairman shall have exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities as necessary or appropriate to fulfill the Board of Peace’s mission.
Article 3.3: Succession and Replacement
The Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman. Replacement of the Chairman may occur only following voluntary resignation or as a result of incapacity, as determined by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board, at which time the Chairman’s designated successor shall immediately assume the position of the Chairman and all associated duties and authorities of the Chairman.
Article 3.4: Subcommittees
The Chairman may establish subcommittees as necessary or appropriate and shall set the mandate, structure, and governance rules for each such subcommittee.
CHAPTER IV — EXECUTIVE BOARD
Article 4.1: Executive Board Composition and Representation
(a) The Executive Board shall be selected by the Chairman and consist of leaders of global stature.
(b) Members of the Executive Board shall serve two-year terms, subject to removal by the Chairman and renewable at his discretion.
(c) The Executive Board shall be led by a Chief Executive nominated by the Chairman and confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
(d) The Chief Executive shall convene the Executive Board every two weeks for the first three months following its establishment and on a monthly basis thereafter, with additional meetings convened as the Chief Executive deems appropriate.
(e) Decisions of the Executive Board shall be made by a majority of its members present and voting, including the Chief Executive. Such decisions shall go into effect immediately, subject to veto by the Chairman at any time thereafter.
(f) The Executive Board shall determine its own rules of procedure.
Article 4.2: Executive Board Mandate
The Executive Board shall:
(a) Exercise powers necessary and appropriate to implement the Board of Peace’s mission, consistent with this Charter;
(b) Report to the Board of Peace on its activities and decisions on a quarterly basis, consistent with Article 3.1(f), and at additional times as the Chairman may determine.
CHAPTER V — FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Article 5.1: Expenses
Funding for the expenses of the Board of Peace shall be through voluntary funding from Member States, other States, organizations, or other sources.
Article 5.2: Accounts
The Board of Peace may authorize the establishment of accounts as necessary to carry out its mission. The Executive Board shall authorize the institution of controls and oversight mechanisms with respect to budgets, financial accounts, and disbursements, as necessary or appropriate to ensure their integrity.
CHAPTER VI — LEGAL STATUS
Article 6
(a) The Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities possess international legal personality. They shall have such legal capacity as may be necessary to the pursuit of their mission (including, but not limited to, the capacity to enter into contracts, acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property, institute legal proceedings, open bank accounts, receive and disburse private and public funds, and employ staff).
(b) The Board of Peace shall ensure the provision of such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of the functions of the Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities and personnel, to be established in agreements with the States in which the Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities operate or through such other measures as may be taken by those States consistent with their domestic legal requirements. The Board may delegate authority to negotiate and conclude such agreements or arrangements to designated officials within the Board of Peace and/or its subsidiary entities.
CHAPTER VII — INTERPRETATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Article 7
Internal disputes between and among Board of Peace Members, entities, and personnel with respect to matters related to the Board of Peace should be resolved through amicable collaboration, consistent with the organizational authorities established by the Charter, and for such purposes, the Chairman is the final authority regarding the meaning, interpretation, and application of this Charter.
CHAPTER VIII — CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Article 8
Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by the Executive Board or at least one-third of the Member States of the Board of Peace acting together. Proposed amendments shall be circulated to all Member States at least thirty (30) days before being voted on. Such amendments shall be adopted upon approval by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Peace and confirmation by the Chairman. Amendments to Chapters II, III, IV, V, VIII, and X require unanimous approval of the Board of Peace and confirmation by the Chairman. Upon satisfaction of the relevant requirements, amendments shall enter into force on such date as specified in the amendment resolution or immediately if no date is specified.
CHAPTER IX — RESOLUTIONS OR OTHER DIRECTIVES
Article 9
The Chairman, acting on behalf of the Board of Peace, is authorized to adopt resolutions or other directives, consistent with this Charter, to implement the Board of Peace’s mission.
CHAPTER X — DURATION, DISSOLUTION AND TRANSITION
Article 10.1: Duration
The Board of Peace continues until dissolved in accordance with this Chapter, at which time this Charter will also terminate.
Article 10.2: Conditions for Dissolution
The Board of Peace shall dissolve at such time as the Chairman considers necessary or appropriate, or at the end of every odd-numbered calendar year, unless renewed by the Chairman no later than November 21 of such odd-numbered calendar year. The Executive Board shall provide for the rules and procedures with respect to the settling of all assets, liabilities, and obligations upon dissolution.
CHAPTER XI — ENTRY INTO FORCE
Article 11.1: Entry into Force and Provisional Application
(a) This Charter shall enter into force upon expression of consent to be bound by three States.
(b) States required to ratify, accept, or approve this Charter through domestic procedures agree to provisionally apply the terms of this Charter, unless such States have informed the Chairman at the time of their signature that they are unable to do so. Such States that do not provisionally apply this Charter may participate as Non-Voting Members in Board of Peace proceedings pending ratification, acceptance, or approval of the Charter consistent with their domestic legal requirements, subject to approval by the Chairman.
Article 11.2: Depositary
The original text of this Charter, and any amendment thereto, shall be deposited with the United States of America, which is hereby designated as the Depositary of this Charter. The Depositary shall promptly provide a certified copy of the original text of this Charter, and any amendment or additional protocols thereto, to all signatories to this Charter.
CHAPTER XII — RESERVATIONS
Article 12
No reservations may be made to this Charter.
CHAPTER XIII — GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 13.1: Official Language
The official language of the Board of Peace shall be English.
Article 13.2: Headquarters
The Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities may, in accordance with the Charter, establish a headquarters and field offices. The Board of Peace will negotiate a headquarters agreement and agreements governing field offices with the host State or States, as necessary.
Article 13.3: Seal
The Board of Peace will have an official seal, which shall be approved by the Chairman.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Charter.
Initial Board of Peace and Gaza Personnel
January 16, 2026
After announcing the move to Phase 2 of the Gaza ceasefire on January 14, the White House two days later released the names of the initial group of leaders tasked with the agreement’s implementation.
Ali Sha’ath, a former deputy planning minister for the Palestinian Authority, has been chosen to lead the technocratic Palestinian government running Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. According to the White House, Sha’ath “brings deep experience in public administration, economic development and international engagement and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities.”
The White House did not reveal any other NCAG members.
Bulgarian politician and diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, who served as the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process from 2015 to 2010, has been named the high representative for Gaza, making him the on-the-ground liaison between the NCAG and the Board of Peace.
Seven men were named to the Board of Peace’s Executive Board, each of whom will oversee a specific Gaza portfolio: Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Trump peace envoy Steve Witkoff; Trump envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner; former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan; World Bank President Ajay Banga; and Trump policy aide and Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel Jr.
A separate Gaza Executive Board will assist Sha’ath and work with Mladenov’s office. Mladenov is a member of the board, along with Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari Strategic Affairs Minister Ali Al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence head Maj. Gen. Hassan Rashad, Emirati Minister of State for Internation Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy, Cypriot-Israeli real estate investor Yakir Gabay, and Dutch politician Sigrid Kaag, the current U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process. Al-Hashimy and Kaag are the only women named to the international Gaza leadership so far.
Trump picked Abraham Accords Peace Institute CEO Aryeh Lightstone, who was an aide to U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman during the first Trump administration, and Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers to the Board of Peace and Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the U.S. Central Command’s Special Operations chief, as the commander of the International Stabilization Force, the military operation responsible for Gaza security, Hamas disarmament and safe delivery of aid.
