France declines to join Trump’s Gaza ‘peace board’

Paris has said the current proposal is “incompatible” with its commitments under the UN

France has declined to join the ‘Board of Peace’ proposed by US President Donald Trump to oversee post-war governance and reconstruction in Gaza.

The US sent invitations to dozens of world leaders, reportedly offering three-year memberships and an option to pay $1 billion for a permanent seat. The body is set to work alongside a Palestinian technocratic administration during a transitional period.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris “must say no because, at present, the charter of the Board of Peace extends beyond Gaza and therefore exceeds the scope of the peace plan endorsed by the United Nations.”

“As currently worded, the charter is incompatible with France’s international commitments,” Barrot said Monday, as quoted by RFI.

Read more

The White House said the board would “play an essential role” in implementing the 20-point plan approved by the UN Security Council in November.

The executive arm will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law and negotiator, Jared Kushner.

Trump expects countries to sign on to the board at the economic forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, Bloomberg reported.

Several news outlets said European politicians have raised concerns over Trump’s plan, with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS describing the mood in the EU as “very nervous and skeptical.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who supports the formation of the board in principle, has acknowledged that Israel and the US have disagreements on the matter.

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to the Board of Peace and is examining the proposal.