The ‘Board of Peace’ For Gaza: India’s Approach 

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• The recent invitation by the US President to several countries including India to join the Board of Peace for Gaza aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for peace, security, and development in Gaza and the wider West Asian region.
• India is expected to respond after a comprehensive evaluation of both the opportunities and implications.

About the Board of Peace For Gaza

• It is a proposed international governance and reconstruction body reportedly initiated under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Roadmap For Gaza, announced in early 2026.
• It has received endorsement ‘in principle’ from the UN Security Council (UNSC), though China and Russia abstained during the vote, signaling their reservations about the structure and mandate.
• India, which has consistently supported a two-state solution and the unconditional release of prisoners, welcomed the plan earlier as a ‘viable pathway’ to long-term regional stability.

Purpose and Vision

• The Board of Peace for Gaza is envisioned as a multi-nation coordination mechanism to:
  • Oversee post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation in Gaza;
  • Facilitate a political settlement between Israel and Palestine;
  • Ensure long-term peace, stability, and development in Gaza and the broader West Asian region;
  • Manage humanitarian assistance and rebuilding efforts, including infrastructure, governance, and aid distribution.
• Trump presented it as the core implementation arm of his ‘20-point roadmap’, a comprehensive US – driven initiative to stabilize Gaza following years of conflict.

Structure and Membership

• The Board reportedly includes 50–60 invited world leaders, representing major powers, regional actors, and development partners. It has a three-tier structure:
  • Founding Executive Council: Chaired by Donald Trump himself, with veto powers;
  • Main Board of Peace: Comprising invited heads of government, including India;
  • Gaza Executive Board: Responsible for on-ground implementation and coordination with humanitarian agencies.
• Membership requires a financial contribution; nations can secure ‘permanent membership’ by committing US$1 billion to the Board’s trust fund.

Funding Mechanism

• The Board is designed to function somewhat like an international reconstruction consortium:
  • The initial funding pool is expected to exceed US$50 billion, sourced from voluntary national contributions, Gulf states, and private donors.
  • Countries contributing US$1 billion or more can gain permanent board seats beyond the initial three-year term.
  • Russia is reportedly considering using frozen Russian assets to make its contribution.
• The funding model risks blurring humanitarian goals with political influence, effectively allowing wealthy states to ‘buy’ decision-making power.

Global Participation

• Accepted or Supportive nations: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and some Central Asian republics.
• Declined or Skeptical: France, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden.
• Undecided: Russia and China; India is still evaluating.
• Israel’s position: It agreed to join after objecting to the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar.

Why Should India Join the ‘Board of Peace’ For Gaza?

• Strengthening India’s Global Diplomatic Profile: India’s inclusion underscores its rise as a ‘balancing power’, not just in Asia, but globally and reinforces India’s image as a responsible global actor and a credible advocate of peace.
  • Participation would align with India’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, humanitarian relief, and conflict mediation under international law.
  • Being part of a high-level global mechanism signals strategic maturity and global ambition, echoing India’s role in the G20, BRICS, and SCO.
• Influence Over Gaza’s Reconstruction Agenda: As a Board member, India could shape policy decisions on project priorities; secure reconstruction contracts for Indian companies (construction, renewable energy, digital governance, pharmaceuticals); and strengthen India’s economic footprint in West Asia through sustainable development initiatives.
• Strategic Leverage in West Asia: Since Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have joined the Board, India’s membership would:
  • Cement ties with key Gulf partners;
  • Enhance cooperation under the India-Israel-US-UAE (I2U2) grouping;
• Balance China’s growing influence through the BRI and Global Development Initiative (GDI) in the region.
  • India’s participation would expand its influence in West Asia and the Gulf, a region vital for:
    • Energy security (India imports over 55% of its oil from the region);
    • Diaspora welfare (over 8 million Indians live in Gulf countries);
    • Trade and investment partnerships with GCC nations.
• Diplomatic Engagement with the US: Trump’s invitation is a symbolic gesture of trust and recognition of India’s global stature. Joining the Board could:
  • Reset strategic momentum with the USA.
  • Open the door to trade and technology negotiations stalled due to tariffs and sanctions;
  • Improve India’s standing in future US-led coalitions on security and economic issues.
• Humanitarian Leadership and Global South Solidarity: India’s participation would reaffirm its role as a voice of the Global South, advocating for justice, development, and equitable peace (India’s soft power leadership).
  • Through the Board, India can push for non-partisan humanitarian relief in Gaza; champion capacity-building and vocational training programs for Palestinian youth; lead efforts in digital public infrastructure and healthcare partnerships, modeled on India’s G20 initiatives.
• Balancing Major Power Politics: By joining the Board, India can act as a bridge between competing blocs of US-led coalition backing the Board; and Russia-China Axis of unilateral mechanisms.
  • India’s pragmatic participation, with conditions on transparency and inclusiveness could:
    • Prevent the Board from becoming a purely U.S.-dominated tool;
    • Ensure multilateral legitimacy by advocating coordination with UN agencies (UNRWA, UNDP, WHO).
  • It aligns with India’s foreign policy doctrine of multi-alignment, preserving its strategic independence while maximizing global influence.
• Precedent for Future Peace Roles: Participation would revive India’s tradition of peace diplomacy — echoing its historical roles in:
  • The Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (Korea);
  • The International Commission for Supervision and Control (Vietnam);
  • The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (2014).
• Exit Clause and Flexible Participation: The Board’s design allows for optional participation at the level of:
  • A high-ranking official (not necessarily the Prime Minister);
  • A defined exit clause after the initial three-year period.
    • It ensures that India’s participation remains conditional and reversible, allowing policymakers to reassess the situation without long-term commitments.

Why Should India Not Join the ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza?

• Undermines Palestinian Sovereignty: Any governance or ‘peace’ mechanism for Gaza created without the free consent of the Palestinian people cannot be considered peace, it is an imposed trusteeship.
  • For India, joining the Board of Peace Board would betray its anti-colonial legacy and the principle of self-determination that underpins its own independence story.
• Erosion of India’s Strategic Autonomy: India’s foreign policy rests on a core principle: strategic autonomy, the ability to engage with all powers without aligning as a subordinate.
  • Accepting an invitation tied to financial inducements and geopolitical expectations risks converting India from a neutral actor to an instrument of external strategy.
• Risk on India’s Global South Credibility: India has built deep trust across the Global South, from Africa to Latin America, as a nation that understands colonialism, occupation, and injustice for decades.
  • India risks fracturing that trust by joining a board viewed as a legitimisation of post-conflict management without justice.

Conclusion & Way Forward

• India Can Help Gaza, Without Joining the Board: India can play a constructive, independent role:
  • Provide humanitarian assistance through UNRWA and other international agencies.
  • Support Palestinian-led reconstruction efforts that prioritise consent and dignity.
  • Advocate for accountability and restraint in international forums.
  • Use diplomatic channels to push for a political process grounded in justice, not management.
• India is expected to respond after a comprehensive evaluation of both the opportunities and implications.
  • The inclusion of exit clauses and the option for representation at a senior official level provide flexibility in engagement.
• India’s decision will ultimately hinge on how the board aligns with India’s principles of multilateralism, strategic autonomy, and commitment to UN-centered peacebuilding.

Source: IE