Arab nations that signed on as founding members of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace did not do so merely for the diplomatic visibility. They joined because they have a direct stake in the outcome — in Gaza’s stability, in Palestinian governance, and in the regional security environment that flows from those outcomes. As the board held its first meeting Thursday, they were already making clear that they expect more than symbolic participation.
Arab and Muslim board members have called on Hamas to disarm — aligning with the core US and Israeli demand. But they have simultaneously accused Israel of undermining the ceasefire through near-daily military strikes and are pressing the United States to exercise greater restraint on its closest regional ally. They have made clear that Israeli withdrawal is as important to peace as Hamas disarmament.
The Arab members are also acutely aware that Palestinians were not invited to participate in a board that is deciding the future of a Palestinian territory. While Arab governments have their own complex relationships with the Palestinian leadership, the exclusion of Palestinian voices from the board creates a legitimacy deficit that Arab members will have to manage with their domestic audiences.
Countries like Indonesia — which is training up to 8,000 soldiers for the proposed stabilization force — have made concrete commitments to the board’s security framework. But they have also set firm limits: they will not participate in Hamas disarmament. That boundary reflects both the operational risks involved and the political sensitivities of Muslim-majority nations contributing forces that could be perceived as acting against a Palestinian armed movement.
Arab nations joining the board is valuable for its legitimacy and breadth. But their continued, genuine participation depends on seeing results — particularly on humanitarian conditions and a credible pathway to Palestinian governance. Their patience, like that of the people of Gaza, is not unlimited.
Trump’s Board of Peace: Arab Nations Want Results, Not Just a Seat at the Table
