US Invites India To $1 Billion ‘Gaza Board of Peace’, Delhi Weighs High-Stakes Offer
The United States has invited India to join a proposed “Gaza Board of Peace”, a new international body to oversee post-war governance and reconstruction in Gaza, offering New Delhi a permanent seat in return for a suggested 1 billion‑dollar contribution, according to a draft charter and official briefings.
What Is The ‘Gaza Board of Peace’?
The “Board of Peace” is conceived as a new international organisation and transitional governing mechanism to supervise Gaza’s reconstruction and administration after two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Backed by a UN Security Council resolution that endorses a limited mandate until 2027, the board is meant to mobilise funding, coordinate reconstruction, and oversee a Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with day‑to‑day governance.
The structure includes a main Board of Peace chaired by US President Donald Trump, a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), an International Stabilization Force (ISF), and a separate “executive board” with regional and international members.
Membership Terms: 3 Years Or $1 Billion For Permanence
A draft charter circulated to around 60 countries states that member states will normally serve three‑year terms, but can secure permanent membership by contributing 1 billion dollars in cash to fund the board’s activities.
US officials insist the contribution is not a “fee” but a ring‑fenced fund for Gaza’s reconstruction, claiming the body will avoid the high overheads and perceived waste associated with some existing multilateral agencies.
Countries that choose not to pay would still be able to sit on the board for a fixed term, but without permanent voting status once their three‑year mandate ends.
India’s Invitation: Strategic Opportunity Or Costly Gamble?
Trump has written directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting India to join the Board of Peace, with the US ambassador in New Delhi publicly sharing the letter and describing India as a “natural partner” in Gaza’s reconstruction.
Reports say the proposal is under active consideration within the Indian government, and was discussed during Modi’s recent meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, given Abu Dhabi’s expected role on the board.
For New Delhi, the decision is complicated by US tariff penalties on some Indian exports and pressure over India’s ties with Russia, raising questions over whether the 1 billion‑dollar investment would strengthen or strain the broader relationship.
Who Else Is On The Board – And Who Objects?
- Draft lists and briefings mention figures such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank president Ajay Banga, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and other business and political leaders as key members.
- Pakistan has also claimed it received an invitation, though Israel has reportedly conveyed that it does not accept any future governing role for Islamabad in Gaza, reflecting deep political red lines.
- Several European governments have reacted cautiously, warning that Trump’s board must not undercut existing UN mechanisms or turn peace‑making into a “pay‑to‑play” system tied to billion‑dollar cheques.
Debate In India: Role, Costs And Reputation
Strategic analysts in India note that joining the board – with or without the 1 billion‑dollar contribution – would give New Delhi a visible role in one of West Asia’s most contentious theatres and could reinforce its image as a responsible global power.
Critics, however, warn that buying permanent membership risks setting a precedent of cheque‑book multilateralism, and could entangle India in Gaza’s volatile security politics while it is already juggling complex ties with the US, Israel, Palestine, the Gulf states and Russia.
