GAZA: Donald Trump’s new plan to establish a “Gaza Peace Delegation” has faced widespread international criticism. Opponents argue that the initiative does not adequately represent the Palestinians and may undermine role of United Nations. According to media reports, the delegation is set to lead the reconstruction of Gaza and manage the post-war phase. However, concerns have arisen regarding its membership structure and eligibility criteria. Letters have been sent to dozens of world leaders, including Anthony Albanese (Australia), Lula da Silva (Brazil), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Ursula von der Leyen (European Union), Narendra Modi (India), Asif Ali Zardari (Pakistan), Vladimir Putin (Russia), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey), Keir Starmer (UK), Nikol Pashinyan (Armenia), and Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus). Additionally, New Zealand’s Prime Minister has stated that she is considering the invitation, while Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has indicated it is evaluating the details of the plan. So far, Edi Rama (Albania), Javier Milei (Argentina), Viktor Orbán (Hungary), Qasym-Jomart Toqaev (Kazakhstan), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), and Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan) have announced their acceptance. Canada’s Prime Minister has also stated that he will join the delegation without incurring any costs. The plan consists of two parts: the “Founding Executive Board” and the “Gaza Executive Board.” The White House has announced that Donald Trump will retain lifetime leadership of the founding board. Among the key members are Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and Tony Blair. Blair’s involvement has drawn significant backlash due to his role in the Iraq War. There is no representative from the Palestinians on the decision-making board, which has drawn criticism from Palestinian politicians. Also, countries wishing to obtain permanent membership must pay one billion dollars—a condition critics have labeled as “commercializing the peace process.”
