The initiative has been criticized for undermining the UN, but in his opening speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald Trump assures:
Everyone wants to be involved, and we will cooperate with many countries, including the UN.
Signed
The structure of the council has been broadened from the original plan for a kind of governance for Gaza after the war. Trump addresses the plans for Gaza in his speech. Trump says, among other things, that Hamas, labeled a terrorist group, must be disarmed, otherwise it is “the end of them.”
The US president also claims that Iran "wants to talk" and that it will happen.
Among the heads of state and government present who sat down to sign after Trump's speech were Argentine President Javier Milei and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
About 60 invitations to the council have gone out in the past week - including to the Pope. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is among those who have said yes, and according to Trump, Russia's Vladimir Putin has also done so. Both are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, in Gaza and Ukraine respectively.
Is questioned
However, many major countries have signaled skepticism, or outright said they are abstaining. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday declined to attend the signing ceremony. Ahead of the event, Britain also said, via Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, that it would not be participating.
Norway, Sweden and France have also said no. Major powers such as China and India have formally given tentative responses, but were clearly not interested in Thursday's ceremony.
On stage in Davos, Donald Trump claimed that he had been asked to become chairman of the council and that he was “very honored,” even though this is a White House initiative. The "Peace Council" has been questioned internationally, including that countries would have to pay at least $1 billion for permanent membership and that Trump, as chairman, would have veto power.
