Brussels (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) - Most
European Union member states have rejected invitations from the United States
to participate in a proposed Gaza 'Board of Peace' initiative led by President
Donald Trump. The diplomatic outreach sought European involvement in a
consultative body addressing post-conflict reconstruction and security
arrangements in Gaza. Several EU governments cited concerns over mandate
clarity, recognition of Palestinian representation and alignment with
established multilateral frameworks as reasons for declining.
The US State Department extended formal invitations last
week to foreign ministers from all 27 EU capitals, framing the board as a
high-level advisory mechanism to coordinate international support for Gaza
stabilisation. Responses received by Tuesday indicate only four EU countries
expressed willingness to engage, while 20 issued polite refusals and three
deferred decisions pending internal consultations. The initiative follows
US-brokered discussions on Gaza governance involving regional stakeholders.
US invitation details and European response patterns
Credit: REUTERS
State Department cables described the Gaza Board of Peace as a forum for sharing reconstruction expertise, security coordination and humanitarian aid planning. Invitations specified non-binding participation with quarterly virtual meetings and annual Washington summits. European responses varied by national priorities, with eastern flank states prioritising Ukraine commitments and Mediterranean members emphasising North African stability.
France, Germany and Italy coordinated a joint response
emphasising exclusive competence of Quartet mechanisms comprising UN, EU, US
and Russia. Spain and Ireland requested clarification on Hamas representation
and settlement freeze preconditions. Baltic republics cited resource
constraints from NATO enhanced forward presence rotations. Scandinavian
governments referenced existing Oslo framework obligations.
Rationale cited by declining EU member states
Foreign ministries communicated decisions through standard
diplomatic channels, avoiding public statements during the initial phase.
Leaked cables reveal recurring themes of procedural legitimacy, funding transparency
and exclusion of non-state actors. Several capitals referenced 2024 European
Council conclusions prioritising Palestinian Authority reform ahead of new
governance structures.
Germany's Auswärtiges Amt noted alignment with G7 Gaza
reconstruction working group as preferred format. French Quai d'Orsay
emphasised UN Security Council Resolution 2735 parameters. Italian Farnesina
highlighted Mediterranean Union commitments precluding parallel structures.
Portuguese and Greek responses stressed Cyprus proximity talks continuity.
Participating EU countries and conditions attached
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic confirmed
attendance at preparatory consultations. Warsaw cited trilateral cooperation
experience from Abraham Accords implementation. Budapest referenced Visegrád
Group coordination on Middle East policy. Prague and Bratislava emphasised
practical reconstruction expertise from post-conflict Balkans missions.
Participants specified limitations excluding binding
commitments or deviation from Common Foreign and Security Policy positions.
Vienna, Sofia and Bucharest indicated observer status pending full membership
decisions. Dublin and Helsinki scheduled parliamentary briefings before
finalising positions.
Context of Trump administration's Gaza policy framework
Credit: AFP
President Trump's January 2025 executive order established the Board of Peace as component of broader Middle East realignment strategy. Previous iterations addressed Abraham Accords expansion and Syria stabilisation. Gaza chapter emphasises security sector reform, deradicalisation programming and economic reconstruction tied to demilitarisation benchmarks.
State Department allocated $500 million initial funding
through USAID mechanisms. Regional partners Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan
committed matching contributions. Israeli government welcomed European
technical expertise while maintaining security veto authority. Palestinian
Authority received parallel invitation through Oslo liaison channels.
Historical precedents for US-led Middle East peace initiatives
Roadmap for Peace (2003) secured EU Quartet membership
through UN facilitation. Annapolis Conference (2007) featured 49 nations
including full EU troika representation. Trump Abraham Accords (2020) excluded
traditional Quartet format, prompting European reservations. Madrid Conference
(1991) established multilateral track precedents referenced in current
declinations.
European External Action Service maintains Gaza
reconstruction database from 2009-2024 operations. Previous EU contributions
totalled €2.1 billion across UNRWA, COGAT and PA ministries. Current
non-participation preserves leverage for comprehensive settlement negotiations.
Implications for transatlantic coordination on Gaza file
High Representative Kaja Kallas scheduled informal Gymnich
format discussions for February. European Parliament foreign affairs committee
requested US ambassador testimony on board objectives. NATO Brussels
consultations addressed security implications for eastern Mediterranean
stability.
US Mission to EU expressed regret over limited participation
while affirming bilateral channel availability. Quint format (US, UK, France,
Germany, Italy) continues weekly coordination calls. UK, post-Brexit, accepted
observer invitation maintaining traditional alignment.
Palestinian Authority and regional Arab state positions
Ramallah coordination unit welcomed European restraint as
affirmation of two-state parameters. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan referenced Arab Peace Initiative continuity during Jeddah consultations.
Egyptian presidency emphasised Rafah crossing management exclusivity. Jordanian
Foreign Ministry stressed custodianship of Jerusalem holy sites.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman hosted
parallel reconstruction conference excluding Board of Peace framework. Turkish
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed alternative Istanbul format with
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation participation.
UN and multilateral organisation responses
UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process Tor
Wennesland affirmed Quartet exclusivity. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe
Lazzarini confirmed continuity of €1.2 billion 2026 appeal. World Bank Gaza
Needs Assessment Update excludes alternative governance scenarios.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
maintains Gaza reconstruction toolkit under Middle East and North Africa
regional programme. International Committee of Red Cross preserves neutrality
across parallel initiatives.
US domestic political context influencing outreach
Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings examined
European responses Wednesday morning. Republican leadership praised Visegrád
engagement as counterweight to French-German dominance. Democratic ranking
members requested State Department reporting on funding safeguards.
House Foreign Affairs Europe subcommittee scheduled closed
briefings with intelligence community. American Israel Public Affairs Committee
welcomed Polish-Czech participation. J Street advocated comprehensive settlement
preconditions.
Funding mechanisms and reconstruction priority areas
Proposed board budget identifies water infrastructure (€800
million), power generation (€600 million) and housing reconstruction (€1.2
billion) as initial focus. European Investment Bank maintains separate €400
million Gaza envelope. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
assesses private sector recovery feasibility.
USAID mission Gaza coordinates with COGAT on project
vetting. World Food Programme confirms food security programming independence.
UN Office for Project Services manages €300 million schools rehabilitation
portfolio.
Timeline for board operationalisation and future meetings
Credit: United Nations
Preparatory virtual session scheduled February 15th with confirmed participants. Washington plenary anticipated June 2026 coinciding with NATO summit. Quarterly progress reports target UN General Assembly submission. Mid-term review planned December 2026 assessing reconstruction benchmarks.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed Gulf state
co-chairing arrangements. Israeli security coordination cell established
parallel vetting mechanism. Palestinian technical teams maintain liaison through
Cairo talks framework.