Donald Trump’s proposed Peace Council, led by himself, would grant permanent membership to countries contributing $1 billion for initiatives like Gaza’s reconstruction.
The Proposed Structure
A draft statute for the Peace Council, seen by Bloomberg, outlines Donald Trump as its first chairman, who would decide on the admission of other members. Decisions would require a majority vote from members, but final approval rests with the chairman.
The statute, as reported, stipulates that member terms cannot exceed three years but can be extended by the chairman. The document also notes that the three-year term applies to members who contribute $1 billion to the Peace Council.
A UN Competitor?
The council is described as “an international organization whose goal is to promote stability, restore reliable and lawful governance, and ensure lasting peace in areas affected by or threatened by conflict.” Critics, according to Bloomberg, view Trump’s initiative as an attempt to build a rival to the United Nations.
An unnamed US official confirmed to journalists that access to the Peace Council is free, but the $1 billion fee would secure permanent membership. The funds are designated for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
White House Clarifies Fee
In response to articles discussing Bloomberg’s report, which stated that a $1 billion payment was a condition for joining the council, the Trump administration issued a denial. “There is no minimum fee to join the Peace Council,” the White House emphasized in a brief post on X, while simultaneously confirming Bloomberg’s reporting.
“It will simply enable permanent membership for countries that demonstrate a deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the White House post read.
Members and Israeli Objections
On Friday, the White House announced that the Gaza Strip Peace Council will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and special envoy for President Trump, Steve Witkoff. The council will also be composed of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, American billionaire and businessman Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump advisor Robert Gabriel.
The executive board for the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, includes figures such as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi. Israel objects to their presence in the board. In a recent address, Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the composition published by the US side was not coordinated with Israeli authorities.
According to Axios, the reception of Netanyahu’s criticism in Washington was dismissive. “It’s our show, not his,” one anonymous US official stated. “In recent months, we have done things in Gaza that no one thought were possible. We intend to continue our actions.”