The Media Line: Saudi Arabia, UAE Agree To Postwar Gaza Role While Turkey, Qatar Advance Despite Israeli Objections  

Saudi Arabia, UAE Agree To Postwar Gaza Role While Turkey, Qatar Advance Despite Israeli Objections  

By The Media Line Staff  

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that eight Muslim-majority countries will join his Board of Peace, a new international body Washington says will oversee Gaza’s postwar administration through 2027 while expanding its mandate to other global conflicts.  

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates announced in a joint statement that each will appoint a representative to the panel.   

Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE had previously signaled their intention to participate, while the others had delayed a decision. Trump had publicly pressed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to join.  

Earlier this week, Israeli officials sharply criticized the decision to include Turkey and Qatar in postwar Gaza governance, citing the countries’ friendly relations with Hamas leaders and concern that the nations will enable terrorism in the Gaza Strip.  

An Arab diplomat said Wednesday that Israel’s stance against giving the Palestinian Authority any part in Gaza’s postwar administration left room for Turkey and Qatar to assume larger roles.   

The diplomat, speaking anonymously to The Times of Israel, said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had shown readiness to contribute to Gaza’s recovery but tied their participation to granting Ramallah meaningful involvement, arguing that restoring the Palestinian Authority’s presence there is key to reconnecting Gaza and the West Bank under a single Palestinian leadership. The Israeli prime minister has previously opposed such a role for the Palestinian Authority.   

Speaking alongside Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump noted that some governments may face legal hurdles before formally signing on. “Some need parliamentary approval,” he said, adding that interest in the initiative extends beyond the countries invited.  

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said between 20 and 25 leaders have already accepted invitations ahead of a signing ceremony scheduled for Thursday. Invitations were sent to roughly 60 nations, including Israel, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Vietnam, and others.  

Trump also disclosed that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to participate. “I have some controversial people on it, but these are people who get the job done. These are people who have tremendous influence,” he said. “We want all nations where people have control and power.” He added, “If I put all babies on the board, there wouldn’t be very much. So he was invited. He’s accepted.”  

The board’s charter, obtained by the Times of Israel, requires member states to contribute $1 billion for permanent membership and calls for an approach willing “to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed.” Asked whether the body could replace the United Nations, Trump responded: “It might.”  

The document does not directly reference Gaza, although the initiative has been described as having received a UN Security Council mandate related to the territory. A separate Gaza Executive Board, announced earlier, includes representatives from Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, and the US and is expected to handle more detailed decision-making on Gaza.  

Slovenia declined the invitation, with Prime Minister Robert Golob warning the initiative risks undermining the UN framework. Sweden, Norway, and Italy also refused to join, while Spain said European leaders are coordinating a shared response. The Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV received an invitation, but has not decided.  

In their statement, the eight Muslim countries said they back “advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law, thereby paving the way for security and stability for all countries and peoples of the region.”