Trump chairs the first meeting of the 'Peace Council': A new structure for Gaza administration and a challenge to the UN's role

US President Donald Trump today, Thursday, chaired the first inaugural meeting of what is known as the 'Peace Council,' an initiative he officially launched as an alternative or complement to the traditional roles played by international organizations. This move has received widespread support from Trump's close allies, while raising a wave of concern among other countries that see it as an attempt to undermine the legitimacy and role of the United Nations in global conflicts.

The roots of this council date back to a proposal Trump presented last September as part of his plan to end the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, before the initiative's ambitions expanded to include resolving other international conflicts. The council, which Trump directly chairs, aims to seize the mediation and crisis management role historically confined to the corridors of the international organization in New York.

According to the council's founding charter, the membership of participating states is set for a renewable three-year term, but there is a controversial clause that allows states to obtain permanent membership in exchange for paying one billion dollars to fund the council's activities. This financial approach reflects Trump's 'transactional' vision in managing foreign policy and making countries bear their share of the costs of international security and peace.

The executive council is composed of prominent figures in Trump's inner circle, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner appointed. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also emerged as a founding member, which drew widespread criticism given his history associated with the Iraq War and imperialist policies in the region.

Regarding international participation, the council's official account announced the joining of more than 20 countries as founding members, including active regional powers in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and the UAE. The list also included countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Bahrain, and Morocco, in addition to countries from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America such as Hungary, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

In contrast, the council faced outright rejection from major Western and Eastern powers, with Britain, the European Union, France, and Germany announcing their intention not to join as permanent members. 'Global South' countries such as Brazil, South Africa, and India also rejected the American offer, considering that the initiative lacks the balance required to resolve international conflicts fairly.

Notably, the Vatican distanced itself from the council, emphasizing that the management of international crises should remain exclusively within the jurisdiction of the United Nations to ensure neutrality. China and Russia, two countries with veto power in the Security Council, were also absent from the formation, which puts the new council in potential confrontation with existing international legal structures.

Trump based the legitimacy of his council on a resolution drafted by the United States and approved by the UN Security Council last November, recognizing the council as a temporary transitional administration for the Gaza Strip. According to this resolution, the council will set the general framework and coordinate the necessary funding for the reconstruction of the devastated strip, within Trump's vision that stipulates a radical reform of the Palestinian Authority.

The international mandate grants the Peace Council the authority to deploy a temporary international stabilization force within the Gaza Strip, with the tasks of this force ending by the end of 2027. The council is committed under this agreement to submit periodic reports every six months to the 15-member UN Security Council, to inform them of the progress made in security and humanitarian files.

Despite this mandate, China and Russia expressed strong reservations during the vote, abstaining from endorsement on the grounds that the resolution does not give the United Nations a clear role in shaping Gaza's future. The legal authority of the council outside the Palestinian territory remains unclear, especially regarding enforcement tools and how to coordinate with other international relief organizations.

Attention is drawn to the broad powers enjoyed by Trump as chairman of the council, as the charter grants him the right of veto over any decision taken by members, in addition to the authority to dismiss any member. This centralization of decision-making has raised experts' concerns about the council becoming a tool for implementing US foreign policy away from international consensus.

From a human rights perspective, international law experts described Trump's oversight of the administration of foreign territories as approaching modern 'colonial practices.' Human rights organizations criticized the absence of any Palestinian representation in a council that decides the fate of Gaza, considering it a marginalization of the people of the land and a repetition of historical mistakes in managing conflicts in the Middle East.

The council also faced sharp criticism for including Israel as a founding member of a body tasked with overseeing Gaza, at a time when the occupation faces accusations of committing war crimes and genocide. Observers believe that Israel's presence in the council undermines its neutrality and makes it a party to the conflict instead of a mediator for peace and reconstruction.

Today's meeting is scheduled to discuss thorny issues including mechanisms for distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza, details of deploying the international stabilization force, and ways to raise the necessary funding for reconstruction. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, and India are participating as observers, indicating an international desire to monitor the behavior of this new entity before full engagement.

The Peace Council's charter grants its chairman broad executive authority, including the right to veto decisions and dismiss members, with an international mandate to transitionally administer Gaza.