Kazakhstan joins Trump's expanding Gaza peace council
President Donald Trump's recently announced Peace Council for Gaza is swiftly broadening its international footprint, with Hungary, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan confirming participation as dozens of countries review invitations to this body tasked with overseeing Gaza's ceasefire next phase.
The White House outlined the council last week as part of Trump's 20-point plan's second phase for Gaza, whose U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced commencement on January 14. It will manage reconstruction, governance, and Hamas disarmament in the war-torn territory where the ceasefire took effect October 10, 2025.
A U.S. official speaking anonymously said a $1 billion contribution secures a permanent seat on the Trump-led council, while three-year terms carry no financial requirement. Collected funds will support Gaza reconstruction.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, one of Trump's closest European allies, accepted Sunday, viewing it as recognition of Hungary's peace efforts. Vietnam Communist Party leader Tô Lâm also accepted, with his government calling the council "a necessary step" for implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 2803-approved Gaza peace plan. Kazakhstan confirmed Monday that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted Trump's invitation.
At least 60 countries received "founding member" invitations, per multiple sources. India, Australia, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, and Albania confirmed receipt, though most have not responded officially.
The executive committee implementing the council's vision includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan. Representatives from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt key ceasefire mediators also sit on it, prompting rare public criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His office stated Saturday the lineup "was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy," urging Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to voice objections to Rubio.
A Trump administration source dismissed Netanyahu's objection to Jewish Insider as a "minor issue likely resolved in days," highlighting Turkish and Qatari roles in negotiating the initial ceasefire.
Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov serves as High Representative for Gaza, linking the Peace Council to the 15-member Palestinian technocratic National Committee for Gaza Administration. Former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath assumed leadership Saturday, signing its mission statement in Cairo. "Our mission is to rebuild the Gaza Strip not just in infrastructure but in spirit," Shaath said, pledging to restore essentials like electricity, water, health care, and education.
The U.S. plans to announce the official Peace Council member list at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, running January 19-23.
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