The peace council convened by U.S. President Donald Trump is holding its inaugural meeting today, focusing on the future of the war-torn Gaza Strip. Established last month during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the council will be meeting in Washington, D.C., however, it remains unclear which countries will be represented and how many delegates will attend. Over 60 countries were invited to join the council, yet only about one-third have accepted the invite, indicating varying levels of interest and commitment to the cause.

Despite receiving a mandate from the United Nations to manage the ceasefire and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip, the lack of confirmed Palestinian representation is a critical issue. It is uncertain whether any representatives from Palestine will partake in the discussions. The council board does not include any Palestinian member; interests of the Palestinian people may be represented through Turkey and Qatar, while Israel, which signed its membership late on February 11, is represented by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Washington.

This meeting holds significant implications for the foreseeable peace process in the Middle East. The sparse attendance could point to underlying geopolitical tensions and the challenges of gathering support for a shared approach to Gaza's recovery. The absence of Palestinian representatives further complicates the dynamics, raising questions about the effectiveness and inclusivity of the council as it seeks to achieve lasting peace and rebuilding initiatives in a region deeply affected by conflict.