Eight Arab and Islamic countries have affirmed their commitment to supporting the implementation of the “Peace Council” mission, amid growing international debate and clear European reluctance to participate in the initiative spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report dated January 21, 2026, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan welcomed Trump’s invitation to join the Peace Council.
The ministers announced their countries’ collective decision to accede to the council, with each state completing the necessary legal and constitutional procedures. Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE had previously declared their intention to join.
The ministers reiterated their support for the peace efforts led by President Trump and affirmed their commitment to implementing the Peace Council’s mandate as a transitional body.
This mandate is outlined in the comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, as adopted by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
The plan seeks to establish a permanent ceasefire, support the reconstruction of Gaza, and advance a just and lasting peace based on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state in accordance with international law, with the aim of enhancing regional security and stability.
In Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office announced via the X platform that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted the invitation to join the council, which is expected to include leaders from various countries worldwide.
Azerbaijan has also agreed to participate, while the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV received an invitation to join the Peace Council.
US Special Envoy Steve Wittkopf said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will also join the council.
However, the initiative has faced resistance in Europe. A confidential European legal document, obtained exclusively by Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath, raised legal and constitutional concerns over the powers granted to the president of the Peace Council.
The document warned that these powers conflict with international administrative law, particularly regarding the establishment of subsidiary bodies and mechanisms governing member-state participation.
The document further criticized the requirement that the council president approve the level of participation of member states, describing it as an unjustified intrusion into national sovereignty and organizational independence.
The analysis concluded that the Peace Council’s charter poses challenges when viewed through the constitutional principles of the European Union.
According to a German Foreign Ministry document cited by Der Spiegel, Berlin has refused to join the Peace Council out of concern that participation could undermine the role of the United Nations.
Norway also declined the invitation, especially amid strained relations following Trump’s public remarks about the Nobel Peace Prize.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated during the Davos forum that Sweden would not take part in the initiative based on the current draft text.
Italy has likewise opted out, with Corriere della Sera reporting that Italian officials fear joining a council led by a single country could violate the country’s constitution.
China, which confirmed it had received an invitation, stated that it would continue to defend the international system with the United Nations at its core.
While Beijing has not yet decided whether to join the council, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun emphasized that China’s position would remain unchanged regardless of evolving international initiatives.
The Peace Council was originally proposed to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. However, the draft charter presented by President Trump grants the council broad powers aimed at addressing armed conflicts worldwide.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed on Monday that the establishment of the Peace Council, as outlined in Trump’s Gaza plan, had been approved by the Security Council strictly for this specific purpose, along with the other provisions of the initiative.
