gaza board — President Nikos Christodoulides has been invited to join the Gaza Board of Peace, a move that highlights Cyprus’s emerging role in Middle Eastern diplomacy. The announcement came from the Cyprus News Agency, which reported that Christodoulides received a letter from US President Donald Trump, confirming that Cyprus will be one of the board’s 25 founding states.
On the same day, the White House unveiled the creation of the Board of Peace, designating key figures including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, and World Bank President Ajay Banga to its founding executive board. Each of these members will oversee specific portfolios aimed at Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term development.
Among the appointed officials, Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov is set to serve as the board’s high representative for Gaza. He will act as the crucial link between the Board of Peace and a new Palestinian-run national committee governing Gaza, which is led by civil engineer Ali Shaath.
Additionally, the White House announced the establishment of a separate Gaza executive board. This board, which includes several members of the founding executive board, is tasked with promoting effective governance and delivering services that foster peace and prosperity for Gaza’s residents.
Earlier reports indicated that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Argentine President Javier Milei had also received invitations to join the Board of Peace. This broad coalition underscores the international community’s commitment to addressing the complexities of the Gaza situation.
In light of these developments, Cyprus’s foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to contributing actively to global efforts for sustainable peace and security in the region. The ministry characterised the creation of the Board of Peace as a vital step towards enabling governance transitions in Gaza.
Christodoulides previously attended a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh focused on Gaza’s future, where he expressed interest in involving Cypriot enterprises in the reconstruction efforts. Following the summit, he returned with propositions for six initiatives that Cyprus could undertake, which centre on security, humanitarian aid, and rebuilding efforts.
These initiatives were formally communicated to the European Union and the United Nations during the Sharm El-Sheikh summit. They emphasised Cyprus’s strategic geographical position, which could facilitate its involvement in Gaza’s future, akin to its role in the Amalthea initiative.
Government sources disclosed that Cyprus aims to offer operational support for the reconstruction plan without seeking to act as a political mediator. This aligns with Christodoulides’s broader vision for Cyprus as a stabilising force in the region, capable of fostering dialogue and cooperation between various stakeholders.
