Post by : Badri Ariffin

The Indian government is contemplating an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the Gaza “Board of Peace.” Experts are advising that any decision should carefully weigh the board’s legitimacy, intended purpose, and conformity to international law.

On January 21, 2026, several nations, including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, and the UAE, announced their decision to align with this board along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has also accepted the proposal.

Indian and Israeli diplomats are currently discussing prospective visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu to India in the forthcoming weeks. These deliberations are part of India's extensive involvement in West Asia and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

On January 30, India will host the Foreign Ministers from the 22-member Arab League, focusing on the U.S.-backed Gaza peace initiative.

During the aforementioned announcement, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of the UAE and Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed their participation. Modi is also planning a West Asia tour next month, highlighting Israel as one of the possible stops. His last visit to Israel took place in 2017, while he traveled to Palestine in 2018. Netanyahu's visit to India has faced multiple postponements over the past year.

The peace initiative was proposed to about 60 nations, including India, Russia, China, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, and various European and West Asian countries. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India's involvement is still under evaluation.

Experts emphasized that India should honor its historical backing of a two-state resolution and its dedication to the Palestinian populace prior to its official acceptance of the board. Former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat remarked that peace in Gaza would be advantageous to civilians and noted India's potential role in providing humanitarian and medical aid. Nevertheless, he expressed concern over the proposed corporate-style governance model and the reported $1 billion fee for permanent membership.

Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao asserted that India’s engagement must align with international law, possess a defined and constrained mandate, and reflect United Nations standards. She predicted that New Delhi would require further clarity before arriving at a conclusive stance.

Other nations committing to the board include Argentina, Canada, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Morocco, while Ukraine and the UK have protested against Russian President Vladimir Putin's inclusion.

The United States has suggested that the board be chaired by President Donald Trump, with members comprising U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special negotiator Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, financier Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel from the U.S. National Security Council.

#Global News