19 January, 17:23
President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a Peace Council focused on addressing the situation in the Gaza Strip. The initiative has drawn immediate criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Under the proposed structure, Trump would serve as chairman of the council. Each member state would have one vote, with decisions made by majority rule. However, implementation would be determined by Trump as chairman.
The council would operate on a membership basis. Any country wishing to join would be required to pay $1 billion. The announcement did not specify payment mechanisms or fund management details.
Argentina's President Javier Milei and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban have been invited to join the council. No additional members have been publicly confirmed.
Netanyahu has criticized the initiative, reportedly objecting that Israel was not consulted on its creation. The Israeli government has been directly involved in the Gaza situation since October 2023.
The Peace Council represents Trump's latest fundraising initiative since taking office. Earlier this month, the administration held a private dinner for cryptocurrency executives that reportedly raised several million dollars per attendee. Trump's sons separately promoted membership in an "Executive Power Club" with entry fees starting at $500,000.
The White House has not released additional details about the council's operational framework, policy authority, or relationship to existing diplomatic channels for Middle East negotiations.