EU and US Clash Over Trump's Gaza 'Board of Peace' at Security Conference
A bitter dispute between Europe and the United States over the future of Gaza has broken into the open, with the European Union's head of foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, issuing a stark warning about Donald Trump's "Board of Peace." Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Kallas declared the board to be a personal vehicle for the US president that removes any accountability to Palestinians or the United Nations.
EU Accusations of Bypassing UN Mandates
Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, joined the criticism, accusing Trump of attempting to bypass the original UN mandate for the board. Albares emphasized that Europe, one of the primary funders of the Palestinian Authority, has been systematically excluded from the entire process. This exclusion marks a significant diplomatic rift between traditional allies.
Kallas detailed her concerns, stating that the original purpose of the UN resolution and mandate was to assist Gaza through a Board of Peace. However, she argued this intent has been subverted because the charter of the current Board of Peace makes no reference to Gaza or to the United Nations. "It is true that the UN Security Council resolution provided for a Board of Peace for Gaza," Kallas explained, "but it also provided for it to be limited in time until 2027, it provided for the Palestinians to have a say, and it referred to Gaza, whereas the statute of the Board of Peace makes no reference to any of these things."
She concluded firmly, "So I think there is a Security Council resolution but the Board of Peace does not reflect it."
US Defense and Broader Tensions
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy voiced additional fears, suggesting the board was constructed in a manner that lacks controls to prevent billions in reconstruction funds from ending up in the hands of Trump's friends and cronies. These comments represent the first time differences over Trump's project have spilled into the open at such a high level, highlighting the escalating tensions regarding the state of the ceasefire in Gaza.
The Board of Peace is scheduled to meet in Washington next week, adding urgency to the diplomatic confrontation. In testy exchanges with Kallas, Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, defended the initiative, attacking what he termed "hand-wringing" about the board. Waltz argued that the status quo of endless war, with Hamas in charge of Gaza, must be broken.
Describing Trump's approach as "focused multilateralism," Waltz asserted it had been necessary to "put the UN on a diet and make it go back to basics of peacemaking." He confirmed that Indonesia has agreed to contribute 8,000 troops to the International Stabilisation Force, with more troop deployments expected to be announced in the coming week. Waltz claimed that some countries are uncomfortable channeling billions of dollars for reconstruction through the UN system.
Humanitarian and Political Stakes
Meanwhile, the Trump-appointed High Representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, attempted to steer clear of the controversy during a side event, focusing instead on immediate tasks. "All of this needs to move very fast," Mladenov warned. "If we do not, we are not going to implement the second phase of the ceasefire but the second phase of the war."
Mladenov declined to engage with allegations of Israeli genocide, concentrating on improving humanitarian aid, decommissioning weapons from all factions, and ending the division of Gaza, which is partially run by Israel and partially by Palestinians. "If we do not address the issue of Hamas and Gaza itself divided into two parts, please tell me how we get to a two-state solution, because I do not see the pathway," he stated. "We are setting ourselves up for complete and utter failure, and the price will be paid by both Israelis and Palestinians down the line."
He emphasized that aid, emergency recovery on the ground, and security are needed immediately, adding, "None of this can be materialised until Gaza is one, and it is not yet one. For Gaza to be reconstructed we need to have the technocratic committee in Gaza and effectively governing, weapons decommissioned and Israeli withdrawal."
Palestinian Perspectives and Broader Implications
Palestinian activist Mustafa Barghouti expressed deep concerns, fearing that discussions about plans for Gaza are losing touch with reality. "The whole of the West Bank has been made open for settlements and Israel is putting the final nail in the coffin of the Oslo accord," Barghouti said. "It is not just about accountability for genocide, but who is going to stop this process of killing the two-state solution."
This public clash underscores the profound divisions in international approaches to the Gaza conflict, with the EU stressing adherence to UN frameworks and accountability, while the US advocates for a more direct, unilateral strategy under Trump's leadership. The upcoming meeting in Washington will be a critical test for the viability of the Board of Peace and the future of diplomatic efforts in the region.
