India attends inaugural Gaza Peace Board meeting as observer

US President Donald Trump’s newly created Board of Peace held its first meeting on 19th February in Washington to discuss reconstruction plans for Gaza, with India attending as an observer.

India was represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Namgya Khampa at the meeting. New Delhi expressed support for the broader Gaza Peace Plan initiative linked to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, while maintaining a cautious approach toward the controversial forum.

Background

Trump first announced the Board of Peace in September 2025 while outlining a plan to end the Gaza conflict. Backed initially by the United Nations, the board’s expanded mandate to address “global conflict resolution” has drawn criticism from some quarters over concerns that it could dilute the UN’s central role.

Membership and Participation

Twenty-seven countries have joined the Board of Peace, including key West Asian nations such as Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain. Other members include Argentina, Hungary, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Pakistan, whose Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the meeting.

India and several countries from the West and Global South have not joined the board formally. Officials said India’s observer status reflects a balanced diplomatic approach—maintaining engagement without endorsing a mechanism that has attracted debate over its implications for multilateral processes.

India’s Position

India reiterated its long-standing support for peace, humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction in Gaza, while emphasising the need for solutions consistent with international law and multilateral frameworks.

Source: IE