WASHINGTON: Israel has formally joined US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday during his visit to Washington, where he met with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Visuals released after the Netanyahu-Rubio meeting showed the Israeli leader holding a signed document confirming Israel’s accession to the board.
Netanyahu also confirmed the development on social media platform X, stating he had “signed Israel’s accession as a member of the Board of Peace.” Later, he discussed Iran-related matters with Trump.
Met with U.S. Secretary of State @marcorubio at Blair House in Washington.
Ahead of my meeting at the White House with President Trump, I signed Israel’s accession as a member of the “Board of Peace.”
We will continue strengthening the unbreakable alliance between Israel and… pic.twitter.com/CJ4Lw92WdX
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 11, 2026
The Board of Peace was authorised under a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November, granting member countries the mandate to establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza.
This comes after a fragile ceasefire began in October under a Trump-backed plan that Israel and Palestinian group Hamas agreed to, according to Reuters.
Under the Gaza plan, the board is tasked with supervising the territory’s temporary governance.
Trump, who chairs the board, has indicated it will be expanded to tackle broader global conflicts.
The board is scheduled to hold its first meeting on February 19 in Washington, where Gaza’s reconstruction will be a primary agenda item.
The initiative has drawn criticism from multiple human rights experts, who argue that a US-led board supervising a foreign territory mirrors a colonial framework. Israel’s presence on the board, which notably does not include Palestinian representation, is expected to intensify scrutiny.
While some Middle Eastern allies of Washington have joined the board, several traditional Western allies have opted not to participate. Observers have raised concerns that the board could undermine United Nations authority and processes in the region.
The ceasefire in Gaza has been repeatedly violated since October, with at least 580 Palestinians killed during this period, according to Palestinian and Israeli tallies.
The next phase of the Trump plan involves resolving contentious issues including Hamas’ disarmament—a measure the group has consistently rejected—further Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.
Humanitarian and rights concerns remain acute. Israel’s past military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 72,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry, triggered widespread hunger, and caused the internal displacement of Gaza’s population.
Multiple human rights experts, scholars, and a UN inquiry have stated that these actions amount to crimes of genocide.
