E-Paper
India, Pakistan among invitees to Trump's Gaza peace board: What this means, and that $1 billion 'fee'
The board will be chaired by US President Trump, and is expected to initially address the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to deal with other conflicts too.
United States President Donald Trump has invited India to be a part of the ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, people familiar with the matter told HT. This came just hours after Pakistan said it got an invite too.
The board is part of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the US. The body is expected to oversee the rebuilding, governance, investments and capital mobilisation in the war-torn region.
What does the invite mean, why $1 bn fee?
The board will be chaired by US President Trump, and is expected to initially address the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to deal with other conflicts too, Reuters reported citing the copy of a US letter and a draft charter.
If India accepts the invite, it would be a part of the board for a three-year term, like other member countries.
However, if countries want to continue being a member, reports say they would have to $1 billion each, which would give them a permanent membership and would go towards funding the board's activities.
However, the three-year appointment at first does not require any contribution.
The countries will oversee next steps in Gaza under the second phase of Trump's ceasefire proposal. The phase includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and the rebuilding and reconstruction of Gaza, AP reported.
Also Read | Israel PM Netanyahu objects to composition of Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza
The letter Trump sent to leaders across the world inviting them to be a part of the board said the countries would be “founding members”, and would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict”, according to AP.
Indian-origin Ajay Banga, who is the president of World Bank, is also on the ‘Board of Peace’; and will be among the technocrats at the centre of a 20-point roadmap put forward by US President Trump.
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, also shared the letter on X with a caption: “Honoured to convey POTUS invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the Board of Peace, which will bring lasting peace to Gaza. The Board will support effective governance to achieve stability and prosperity!”
Full text of US President Trump's invite
Here's the full text of the invite that US President Trump sent to PM Modi (similar to the template used for other countries):
"It is my Great Honor to invite you, as Prime Minister of the Republic of India, to join me in a critically Historic and Magnificent effort to solidify Peace in the Middle East and, at the same time, to embark on a bold new approach to resolving Global Conflict!
On September 29th, 2025, I announced the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, an extraordinary 20-point roadmap quickly embraced by all World Leaders, including major Heads of State across the Arab World, Israel, and Europe. In furtherance of this Plan, on November 17th, the United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly adopted Resolution 2803, welcoming and endorsing this vision.
Now it is time to turn all of these Dreams into reality. At the heart of the Plan is The Board of Peace, the most impressive and consequential Board ever assembled, which will be established as a new International Organization and Transitional Governing Administration.
Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE, an Honor reserved for those prepared to lead by example, and brilliantly invest in a secure and prosperous future for generations to come. We will convene our wonderful and committed partners, most of whom are Highly Respected World Leaders, in the near future."
