US plans Gaza Board of Peace signing ceremony in Davos, as Israel's Netanyahu and other world leaders are hesitant to join

The U.S. is planning a signing ceremony for President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this Thursday, according to a copy of the invitation that has been circulated online, amid ongoing concerns by many of the invitees. 

How many of the over 60 invited leaders are expected to participate in the ceremony is still unclear, as many of the major world powers have been hesitant to accept the invitation amid growing concerns that Trump could intend the board’s authority to grow far beyond Gaza. 

According to its founding charter, which doesn’t even mention Gaza, the board would be led by President Trump as chairman, and permanent membership can be purchased for the sum of $1 billion. 

🚨Trump's Board of Peace charter signing ceremony: Thursday 10:30am in Davos pic.twitter.com/155SrdeyvQ

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) January 19, 2026

The charter also says the board should have “the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed,” leading many to speculate it could be designed to eventually replace the UN. Earlier this month the U.S. left 31 UN agencies and bodies, arguing they operated “contrary to U.S. national interests.” 

So far, only the leaders of Argentina, Hungary, Morocco, Vietnam and Kazakhstan announced they would accept Trump’s invitation. 

According to the Times of Israel, President Isaac Herzog is set to travel to Davos for the WEF, though it is unclear whether he will participate in the signing ceremony for the Board of Peace.  

My best effort at understanding Trump's Board of Peace and its constituent parts.

This is the Trump Organisation that the UK, Europe and Arab countries are being asked to buy into as an alternative to the UN. Understandably, may are hesitant. https://t.co/CnokFTgvvi pic.twitter.com/TCm1XsjQQM

— Hugh Lovatt (@h_lovatt) January 19, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed receiving an invitation to the board; however, he is currently mired in a dispute with the U.S. over the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar in the board’s executive sub-committee, and hasn’t officially responded yet. 

Argentina’s President Javier Milei said on 𝕏 that “It is an honor for me to have received tonight the invitation for Argentina to join, as a founding member, the Board of Peace, an organization created by President Trump to promote lasting peace in conflict-affected regions, starting with the Gaza Strip.” 

According to the Jewish Insider (JI) citing Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Kornichuk, President Volodomyr Zelensky did not immediately receive an invitation, unlike Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko. 

The next day, JI's Lahav Harkov updated that Ukraine had since received an invitation to join the board.

Reporter: Have you invited Putin to be a member of the Board of Peace?

Trump: Yeah. He's been invited.

Reporter: Thoughts on Macron saying he will not join the Board of Peace?

Trump: [...] I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join. pic.twitter.com/2KzEt3ARUP

— Daractenus (@Daractenus) January 20, 2026

Poland has signaled concern over the inclusion of Russia. According to Politico, an aide to President Karol Nawrocki said Monday that he had also been invited and was considering his response, while noting that Putin was among leaders “seen at odds” with Nawrocki. 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said joining the Board of Peace would require approval by the parliament, “and we will not let anyone play us” in a post on 𝕏. 

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters the UK is “talking to allies about the terms of the Board of Peace,” and a German government spokesman said Germany is “thankful for this invitation,” noting that the country shared “the aim of pursuing peace in the world. It is in Germany's core interest to end the conflict in Gaza for good.” 

Prime Minister Rama shared Trump's invitation for #Albania 🇦🇱 to become a founding member state and party to the 'Charter of the Board of Peace': pic.twitter.com/PNLbOEYQJy

— Rainier Jaarsma (@RJaarsma) January 18, 2026

Meanwhile, France said publicly that it wouldn’t accept the invitation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Monday that it is “incompatible with France’s international commitments and in particular its membership in the United Nations, which obviously cannot be called into question under any circumstances.” 

Talking to reporters later that day, Trump said about France’s President Emmanuel Macron, “I’ll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join.” 

China also confirmed receiving an invitation. “Over the past year, China-US relations have experienced ups and downs, but have maintained overall dynamic stability,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news briefing, “Cooperation between China and the US benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both.”