Bored Of Boards: On Donald Trump’s ‘Board Of Peace’ For Gaza
President Donald Trump’s announcement of a “Board of Peace” for Gaza at Davos, with Pakistan present and India absent, raises questions.
In Davos this week, President Donald Trump unveiled what he called a “Board of Peace” for Gaza — a group of countries and leaders tasked with guiding reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in the war-torn territory. On the stage with him were familiar partners, regional players and, notably, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
On the surface, the idea of a coordinated effort for Gaza’s recovery is not controversial. The people of Gaza have endured years of conflict, displacement and uncertainty. They need tangible support, stable infrastructure and a pathway back to normal life. In that sense, any forum aimed at relief and reconstruction can be welcomed. But the way this particular board was presented — who was included and who was not — reveals something about how global peacemaking is still shaped by politics as much as by principles.
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Pakistan’s participation drew early attention because its relationship with the United States has often been uneven. Its seat on a group discussing Gaza suggests a willingness by Washington to work with a broader set of partners, even if past ties have been complicated. That choice can be read as inclusive. It can also be read as transactional, shaped more by strategic convenience than by a coherent peace agenda.
India’s absence was equally noticeable. New Delhi’s engagement in West Asia has grown over the last decade. Its energy ties, its diaspora, its diplomatic ties with Israel and with the Palestinian leadership — all point to a country that does not sit outside the region’s concerns. That it was not part of this announcement raised quiet questions about how India is seen in the architecture of peace initiatives.
True peace is not built from announcements alone, nor from panels that reflect only some parts of the broader reality. It is built from sustained dialogue, from listening to those affected most deeply, and from ensuring that every voice with a stake in the future feels it has a place in shaping it. A board can coordinate resources and plans, but peace itself requires more than signatures and photo opportunities.
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