France Rejects Trump’s Gaza ‘Peace Board’
Paris refuses to legitimize US-led postwar scheme, warning the proposal violates international commitments and exceeds UN-mandated frameworks
France | PUREWILAYAH.COM — France has formally declined to join the so-called “Board of Peace” proposed by US President Donald Trump to oversee postwar governance and reconstruction in Gaza, citing fundamental incompatibilities with United Nations–endorsed frameworks and France’s international obligations.
The rejection delivers a setback to Washington’s attempt to impose a US-centric political architecture over Gaza in the aftermath of Israel’s war, a plan increasingly viewed in Europe as an effort to sideline Palestinian self-determination and normalize foreign control under the banner of “peace.”
France Cites UN Framework, Rejects Expanded US Mandate
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris “must say no” to the proposal because the board’s charter, as currently drafted, extends beyond Gaza and exceeds the scope of the peace plan endorsed by the United Nations.
“As currently worded, the charter is incompatible with France’s international commitments,” Barrot stated on Monday, according to RFI.
French officials stressed that any postwar arrangement must remain strictly within UN-approved parameters and respect Palestinian political rights, a position that places Paris at odds with Washington’s expanding mandate for the board, which critics say risks institutionalizing foreign tutelage over Gaza.
US Pushes Davos Sign-On as Resistance Grows
Despite mounting skepticism, the White House insists the board would “play an essential role” in implementing a 20-point plan approved by the UN Security Council in November. Invitations have reportedly been sent to dozens of countries, offering three-year memberships and even a $1 billion option for a permanent seat—an approach widely criticized as transactional and coercive.
The board’s executive arm is set to include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and longtime architect of US-Israeli normalization schemes. Trump is pressing governments to commit during an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this week, according to Bloomberg.
European unease is growing. Multiple outlets report that EU officials view the plan with suspicion, while Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS described the prevailing mood in Europe as “very nervous and skeptical.” Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who backs the idea in principle—has acknowledged unresolved disagreements between Tel Aviv and Washington over the board’s structure and authority.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited and is reviewing the proposal, underscoring the geopolitical contest surrounding Gaza’s future.
France’s refusal adds to a widening resistance against US attempts to reengineer Gaza’s postwar order without genuine Palestinian consent—reinforcing concerns that the “Board of Peace” functions less as a peace mechanism and more as a tool to entrench foreign dominance after months of devastation and mass civilian suffering. (PW)