A fracturing of the established international order occurred in Davos two weeks ago as United States President Donald Trump formally launched the Board of Peace, a controversial new organisation that he claims might replace the United Nations. On 22 January 2026, Trump signed the founding charter alongside leaders from 19 nations, including Argentina, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia, while traditional Western allies such as France, the United Kingdom, and Germany declined to join. Although initially mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 to oversee the post-war reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the body has turned into a permanent, “pay-to-play” institution where sovereign states must pay US$1 billion for a permanent seat, privileging wealthy nations over democratic accountability, replacing diplomatic merit with financial capital.

The international response has been deeply divided. While Trump declared the signatories to be “the most powerful people in the world,” traditional allies have boycotted the initiative, citing concerns that it seeks to dismantle the established international order. France refused to join, arguing the organization seeks to “usurp the role of the United Nations,” while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the involvement of Vladimir Putin “concerning” given the ongoing war in Ukraine. Similarly, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob was equally blunt, rejecting the invitation on the grounds that the body “dangerously interferes with the broader international order.”

At the heart of this debate is the Body of Peace’s Charter, which introduces a radical departure from the principle of “sovereign equality” established in the UN Charter. By operating under a strict, hierarchical structure, rather than a traditional democratic international organisation the initiative functions more as an instrument of American hegemony rather than a platform for multilateral cooperation. In fact, the Chairman, Donal Trump, possesses absolute authority, distinct from his role as US President, will hold the position for life and won’t be subject to term limits. Amongst his powers he has the exclusive authority to invite countries to join, appoint or dismiss members, veto decisions, set agendas, and nominate his own successor.

Nonetheless, there is even a deeper legal crisis rooted in the birth of this organization: Resolution 2803 ignores the jus cogens norm of self-determination. The UN Charter and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) 2024 Advisory Opinion affirm that the Palestinian people have an inalienable right to determine their own political future. By imposing a foreign-led Board of Peace, to oversee the territory’s governance and resource allocation, the resolution effectively replaces indigenous sovereignty with a form of administration which lacks any legal basis, replacing an illegal occupation with a “formalized internationalized occupation” without the explicit democratic consent of the Palestinian people.

Notably, the current vision for the “New Gaza” project, unveiled at the January 2026 Davos summit, represents a radical departure from traditional humanitarian reconstruction. Promoted by figures like Jared Kushner, the plan envisions a $25 billion to $30 billion redevelopment that would transform the Strip into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” complete with glass-walled skyscrapers, high-end tourism, and futuristic urban hubs results in a top-down imposition that treats the territory as a piece of property rather than a home for 2.1 million traumatised people. By treating Gaza as a “blank canvas,” the plan bypasses the cultural and social roots of the territory, a strategy that Scholars from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs warn risks reproducing fragmentation.

The crisis in Gaza cannot be solved through market logic. The Board of Peace’s “pay-to-play” model undermines sovereign equality and self-determination. The international community must therefore bypass the Board of Peace’s centralised authority and engage directly with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic body capable of delivering reconstruction grounded in local ownership and the rule of law. Peace in Gaza cannot be bought for a billion dollars but it must be built through lawful governance, inclusive participation, and respect for human dignity.