Netanyahu joins Trump-led board of peace despite ICC warrant

Netanyahu joins Trump-led board of peace despite ICC warrant

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has accepted an invitation from Donald Trump, the United States president, to join a new body called the Board of Peace, a move that is already drawing scrutiny over credibility and balance.

Netanyahu’s office confirmed the decision on Wednesday in a post on social media. The announcement comes despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) having issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

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The Board of Peace was unveiled as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, aimed at ending Israel’s war on Gaza. According to Trump, the body is meant to oversee governance capacity building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, and large-scale funding for the territory.

As reported by Al Jazeera, Trump will lead the board and retain control over its membership, a structure that has raised questions about its independence. Netanyahu’s inclusion has intensified those concerns, given Israel’s central role in the conflict that the board is meant to address.

Netanyahu’s decision also marks a shift from earlier criticism by his office of the executive committee, which includes Turkiye, a regional rival of Israel.

He is not the only invitee facing international legal scrutiny. Vladimir Putin, Russia president, who is wanted by the ICC over Russia’s war in Ukraine, was invited earlier this week. The Kremlin said it was seeking to clarify the details of the proposal with Washington. Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, has also reportedly received an invitation.

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Other countries invited to join include the UAE, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Argentina. The United Kingdom and the executive arm of the European Union have confirmed receiving invitations but have not yet responded. It remains unclear how many additional leaders will be asked to join.

The executive board includes Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of state, Steve Witkoff, a Trump envoy, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Marc Rowan, chief executive of Apollo Global Management, Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, and Robert Gabriel, Trump’s deputy national security adviser.

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The White House also announced a separate Gaza Executive Board, tasked under the ceasefire agreement with implementing the demanding second phase of the deal.

Trump has suggested the board could eventually take on a broader global role. That has fuelled speculation that he sees it as a possible alternative to the United Nations, which he has frequently criticised.

Asked this week whether the Board of Peace should replace the UN, Trump said the organisation should continue. “The potential is so great,” he said, before adding that the new board “might” take on a larger role because the UN “has not been very helpful” and “has never lived up to its potential”, according to Al Jazeera.

Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.

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