AhlulBayt News Agency: The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has issued a strongly worded statement criticising US President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine, stating that the initiative legitimises war crimes and deepens Palestinian suffering.
The statement, signed by Ranjan Solomon, John Dayal, Maimoona Mollah and Vineet Tiwari on behalf of IPSN, said the proposed board “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds” and accused Trump of condoning violence against women and children in Gaza.
The statement is as follows:
The announcement of the “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by US President Donald J. Trump, with himself as chair, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as key members, Trump condones war crimes against children and women, runs salt in Palestinian wounds.
This initiative, presented as a mechanism for reconstruction and governance, and already deemed to be in force, risks exacerbating the longstanding hardships faced by Palestinians. It rubs salt in the wounds of the Palestinian civilization, while effectively handing over Gaza on a platter to Israel through mechanisms that prioritize external interests over local autonomy and rights.
Data from the Gaza Health Ministry and reports from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNRWA show the enormity of the war crime – since October 7, 2023, at least 72,437 Palestinians have been killed and 171,324 injured, and 1.9 million displaced, equating to nearly 90% of Gaza’s population prior to the escalation.
Gaza City is now a bombed-out landscape, as are part of Khan Younis, and Rafa, impacting residential structures, educational facilities, medical centres, and other essential infrastructure.
The Gaza board’s founding executive committee consists of a cabal of Mr Trump’s government members, corporate cronies and other individuals known for their proximity to Israel or their antipathy to the Palestinian people.
Israel Prime minister Netanyahu, the chief architect of the mayhem, has confirmed his participation. Other members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
An additional Gaza executive committee includes Kushner, Witkoff, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence director Hassan Rashad, Emirati minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay, and Dutch Mideast expert Sigrid Kaag.
Their motives are clear. First son-in-Law Jared Kushner, in a 2024 interview, referred to Gaza’s coastal regions as having development potential and proposed the temporary relocation of civilians. Steve Witkoff and Marc Rowan are linked to major property and investment enterprises. Yakir Gabay operates in Israeli real estate and finance.
Participation in the board requires countries to commit at least $One billion, but it excludes direct involvement from Palestinian authorities or representatives of civil society. Even if the Palestinians were persuaded to participate, the one-billion-dollar demand entirely excludes them from participation in decisions that directly influence their governance and recovery.
The deliberate inclusion of Prime Minister Netanyahu continues the political aggression against the Palestinians. The International Criminal Court has pursued arrest warrants against him for war crimes, such as civilian targeting and the restriction of humanitarian aid. Documentation shows that more than 80% of Gaza’s housing has been damaged or destroyed.
It emphasises collaborations with select regional governments and Israel, rather than resolving fundamental concerns such as the Gaza blockade, West Bank settlement activities, and the pursuit of Palestinian self-determination in accordance with international law.
Efforts to rebuild Gaza should be directed by Palestinians, supported internationally in a manner that respects their priorities and legal entitlements, including the right of return and provision of essential services. The board, as structured, falls short of these requirements.
The international community, encompassing the United Nations, European Union, however sterile they are, and nations from the Global South, advocate for inclusive frameworks, legal accountability for international law breaches, and compensation for impacted individuals.
Reconstruction must be conducted with transparency, local involvement, and a primary focus on the well-being of Palestinians.
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