By Adeola AdeosunShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Trump administration is reportedly asking countries that want a permanent spot on President Donald Trump's new "Board of Peace" to contribute at least $1 billion, according to Bloomberg on Saturday who obtained a draft charter for the proposed international organization.
The White House Rapid Response account on X called Bloomberg's report "misleading," stating the proposal "offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity."
The charter reportedly reveals that Trump would serve as the inaugural chairman and would decide on who's invited to be members. The draft charter says that member states would serve three-year terms subject to renewal by the chairman, but this term limit would not apply to countries contributing more than $1 billion in cash funds within the first year.
Newsweek has reached out the White House via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
Some critics and leaders are concerned that Trump is attempting to build an alternative or rival to the United Nations (U.N.), which he has long criticized. The proposal raises questions about international governance structures and how diplomatic influence could be shaped by financial contributions. Many rights experts and advocates have previously said Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory's governance resembled a colonial structure, Reuters reported.
The Board of Peace's role in Gaza comes as the territory continues to see deadly violence despite a fragile ceasefire that went into effect in October. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 abducted in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli authorities. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 71,000 people have been killed in the territory since Israel began its military campaign—figures that do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza’s health ministry has reported more than 450 people killed in Israeli strikes, while the Israeli military says three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian armed groups.
What To Know
The Board of Peace is described in the charter as "an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict," according to Bloomberg's report. The organization would become official once three member states agree to the charter.
On Friday, the White House announced the executive panel for the Board of Peace that will supervise the temporary governance of Gaza that would include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, with Trump serving as chair. The board also includes private equity executive and billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Trump adviser Robert Gabriel, and former U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov as high representative for Gaza.
According to the draft obtained by Bloomberg, decisions would be taken by majority vote, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman's approval. Trump would also be responsible for approving the group's official seal.
The draft charter's provisions give Trump extensive control over the organization. Trump would have the power to remove a member, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of member states. The charter also reportedly states that "the Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman," according to Bloomberg.
The draft appears to suggest Trump himself would control the money, something that would be considered unacceptable to most countries who could have potentially joined the board, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.
Israel and Hamas signed off in October on Trump's plan, which says a Palestinian technocratic body will be overseen by the international Board of Peace meant to supervise Gaza's governance for a transitional period. A U.N. Security Council resolution, adopted in mid-November, authorized the Board of Peace and countries working with it to establish an International Stabilization Force in Gaza, commanded by Major General Jasper Jeffers, a former U.S. special operations commander.
...What People Are Saying
Board of Peace draft, viewed by Bloomberg, reportedly states: "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."
White House Rapid Response on X: "This is misleading. There is no minimum membership fee to join the Board of Peace. This simply offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity."
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on January 15: "As Chairman of the Board of Peace, I am backing a newly appointed Palestinian Technocratic Government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, supported by the Board's High Representative, to govern Gaza during its transition."
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff wrote on X on January 14: "On behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. Phase Two establishes a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel."
Fox News political analyst Guy Benson wrote on X on Saturday: "Love the idea of a counter to the corrupt and often despicable UN. An entry fee that Trump himself would control?? If that detail is true, all potential members would be right to say no way."
What Happens Next
Trump has invited several world leaders, including Argentina's President Javier Milei and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney to join the Board of Peace for Gaza, a branch of his Board of Peace, Bloomberg reported, something that drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said the details hadn’t been coordinated with his country.
The organization's implementation will depend on whether three member states agree to the charter and how nations respond to the proposed financial requirements and governance structure.
Update 1/17/26, 8:32 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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