Introduction
The Peace Council, established by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of his peace proposal for the Gaza Strip, has confirmed 26 “founding members,” including El Salvador as the latest addition. However, numerous countries have expressed doubts about the council’s functions and its potential to operate as a parallel structure to the United Nations (UN).
Founding Members of the Peace Council
According to a message posted on social media, the founding members of this growing international organization are:
- Saudi Arabia
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Albania
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Mongolia
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Qatar
- Turkey
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Kosovo
Most of the members announced recently, excluding El Salvador, had already confirmed their participation. Notably, Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted Trump’s invitation, is not listed among the published members.
Current Member Composition
Currently, the Peace Council has only one permanent member of the UN Security Council —the United States— after Germany, France, China, and Russia either declined or remained silent on joining. Among the European Union (EU) members, only Bulgaria and Hungary have accepted Trump’s invitation, while Spain has publicly rejected participation due to the council’s lack of alignment with the UN framework and exclusion of the Palestinian Authority.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza and the Peace Council
Trump’s plan for Gaza, which includes the establishment of this council, received international legitimacy through a UN Security Council resolution in November 2025. The declared objective was to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction following Israel’s offensive in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks and a demilitarization process alongside transferring responsibilities away from Hamas.
Uncertainty surrounds the council’s functions, with Trump suggesting it “could” replace the UN. Additionally, Trump’s role as a “vitalicio” (lifetime) president of the council and the requirement for a $1,000 million (approximately €860 million) contribution from members has raised further concerns.
According to sources at the White House consulted by Europa Press, there is “no requirement” for members to contribute these funds —those who fail to do so will serve a three-year term. It remains unclear if any of the 26 confirmed members have made this payment, and how these funds will be utilized for Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Peace Council? The Peace Council is an international organization established by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of his peace proposal for the Gaza Strip.
- Which countries are founding members? The founding members include Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Kosovo.
- How many permanent UN Security Council members are part of the council? Only one permanent member, the United States, has joined the Peace Council.
- Which EU countries have accepted Trump’s invitation? Bulgaria and Hungary are the only EU countries that have agreed to participate in the Peace Council.
- What are the concerns surrounding the council? Concerns include the council’s functions, its potential to operate as a parallel structure to the UN, Trump’s lifetime presidency of the council, and the requirement for a substantial financial contribution.
