Donald Trump’s Board of Peace was launched on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in January 2026 and is viewed as the president’s attempt to create an alternative to the United Nations, which he has repeatedly criticised.Although the original UN mandate for the board called for it to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and to aid the 2.2 million Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israeli forces, the organisation’s charter makes no reference to either the Gaza or the UN.More than 60 leaders were invited to join – with permanent membership requiring a $1bn contribution. Key democratic allies such as the UK, Canada, France and Germany are notably absent, while Russia and China are also yet to sign on.Approximately 24 countries have joined, including Arab states such Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Vietnam have also signed up.Palestine is not a member, but Israel and its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who faces an arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza – are part of the board.Palestinians have been assigned to its lower-tier technocratic committee, while high-profile figures including former UK prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner sit on the executive board.Trump has claimed the Board of Peace would “prove to be the most consequential international body in history”.