- January 19, 2026
- 8:40 pm
- Middle East
US President Donald Trump, according to sources, invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join a project called the “Peace Council.” In Washington, it is described as a structure that will oversee post-war management of the Gaza Strip and initiate reconstruction.
The idea is simple yet toxic: to create a political “oversight loop” that will decide who governs Gaza “the next day,” who controls security, and who gets the right to influence reconstruction funds. From the start, the project is causing controversy — primarily due to the list of participants and a vague mandate.
The main conflict — Turkey and Qatar on the list
Within the Israeli political system, the key irritant is that, according to sources, Turkey and Qatar are among the invitees. For Jerusalem, this poses a risk: both countries are perceived as players with their own interests in the Palestinian issue, rather than neutral “administrators.”
Additionally, there is discussion that alongside the “Peace Council,” an executive body for Gaza may emerge — more practical, “operational.” And it is around this that delegations feel the most tension: who will sit at the table, who will actually make decisions on the ground, and where Palestinians fit into this scheme.
Netanyahu knew in advance or was caught off guard
Sources provide a contradictory picture: one camp claims Netanyahu was informed in advance about the invitations to Turkey and Qatar, while another says it was an unpleasant surprise for him. This discrepancy is significant in itself: if the head of government learns such details “on the go,” it looks like an attempt to impose a format on Israel from outside.
In politics, such details rarely remain “technical.” They become a matter of trust and control, especially when it comes to security at the borders.
Europe is unlikely to join this format
In Europe, the idea of the “Peace Council” faces serious resistance. Diplomats say many EU countries are not ready to participate because the project is perceived as a parallel structure that could extend beyond Gaza and become a tool of the White House’s personal policy.
Amid threats of tariffs and nervousness around other foreign policy issues, Brussels has no desire to enter a platform where the rules are pre-written for one chairman, and the mandate can expand without clear limitations.
France is studying the mandate, Ukraine also appears in invitations
Some European capitals, including Paris, prefer the formula “carefully studying the text.” They are particularly concerned about the breadth of powers: if the document speaks not only about Gaza but about broader international mechanisms, then it is no longer a local initiative but a bid for a new architecture of influence.
According to sources, an invitation may have been sent to Ukraine as well. This adds to the feeling that the “Peace Council” project is being turned into a universal platform for major conflicts — with unpredictable logic and composition.
Putin on the list — separate toxicity
A special line is the invitation sent to Vladimir Putin. In diplomatic circles, there is doubt that he will agree to play the role of a participant under Trump’s chairmanship. But even the fact of such an invitation intensifies the initiative’s conflict, considering the international context and the International Criminal Court warrant issued in 2023.
For Europe, this is a red flag. For Israel, it is a factor that complicates any attempts to make the “Peace Council” a working mechanism.
What this means for Israel and the region
For Israel, the “Peace Council” is not abstract diplomacy but an attempt at external management of an issue on which the country’s security depends: who controls Gaza, who sets the rules, who gains leverage near Israeli borders.
Everything will come down to two questions. First: is Trump ready to revise the composition and mandate so that the EU does not refuse and Israel does not see the scheme as a threat. Second: can Jerusalem protect its interests without turning the dispute into a public crisis with Washington.
It is precisely at this crossroads — whether the “Peace Council” will become a tool of stabilization or a new source of conflicts — that NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency is closely watching.
