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Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar have issued a joint statement saying they have accepted the invitation to join US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'.
President Trump first proposed the board as part of his plan to end the war in Gaza, later making clear the board's remit would be expanded to tackle other global conflicts.
Trump has hailed the initiative in Davos, Switzerland where he is expected to host a signing ceremony for those joining the board on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
“We have a lot of great people that want to join. It's going to be the most prestigious board ever formed. We have major countries and some need parliamentary approval. But for the most part, everybody wants to be on. I have a little bit of the opposite problem. People want to be on and we didn't ask them. I think it's the greatest board ever formed.”
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also publicly confirmed Israel's acceptance.
It marks a departure from Israel's earlier stance, when Mr Netanyahu's office criticized the makeup of the board's executive committee, which includes regional rival, Turkiye, saying it was "contrary" to Israeli government policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia is yet to decide how it will respond.
"Regarding our participation in 'Board of Peace'," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to study the documents received by us, consult with our strategic partners on this matter, and only then will we be able to respond to the invitation extended to us.”
According to a draft Board of Peace charter, the US President would act as the inaugural chairman of the board, and would be tasked with promoting peace around the world and working to resolve conflicts.
Member states would be limited to three-year terms, unless they pay AU$1.5 billion each to fund the board's activities and earn permanent membership.
President Putin says Russia is already willing to contribute funds.
“Even before we decide on the issue of participation in the composition and work of 'Board of Peace', taking into account Russia’s special relationship with the Palestinian people, we could, I think, send $1bln from Russian assets frozen under the previous U.S administration to 'Board of Peace'.”
At least 50 countries have confirmed receiving invitations to join, and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff says up to 25 countries have so far accepted.
These include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar.
NATO members Turkey and Hungary have also agreed to take part, as have Morocco, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, and Vietnam.
President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, says she is proud to accept the invitation.
“We strongly believe in his vision. We strongly believe in his bold leadership for peace. We strongly believe in his peace through strength formula and at the same time, we believe that this organization has a great future ahead and that all nations, big or small, that truly believe in the power of peace and in the power of freedom will join around President Trump.”
Germany, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have declined Trump's invitation, while Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said joining the board appeared problematic.
Some diplomats say the plan risks undermining existing United Nations structures with officials around the world voicing concern the Board of Peace is Trump's effort to replace the United Nations, a claim Trump has not denied, but has played down.
UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq says it is too early to assess whether it will pose a threat to the UN.
“There have been any number of organizations - regional organizations, defense alliances and others - that have coexisted with the UN over the 80 years that the UN has been in existence. It's too early to tell what the Board of Peace will look like. One thing we are aware of is, of course, that the Security Council has endorsed the Board of Peace strictly for the work on Gaza, and of course, we continue to abide by that resolution. What happens in the future we'll have to see.”
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged a continued commitment to international law and global order, saying:
“The UN Charter is the foundation of international relations, the bedrock of peace, sustainable development & human rights. When leaders run roughshod over international law, picking & choosing which rules to follow – they are undermining global order & setting a perilous precedent. When a handful of individuals can bend global narratives, sway elections, or dictate the terms of public debate, we are facing inequality and the corruption of institutions & our shared values.”
A tenuous ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since October last year, and those on the board would hypothetically oversee next steps as it moves into its second phase.
As a number of countries continue to weigh up whether or not to accept Trump's invitation, Gaza's Civil Defence Agency says an Israeli strike has killed 11 civilians, including three journalists.
Israel's military says its troops struck a drone affiliated with Hamas that posed a threat to troops, but did not give details on how they identified the so-called suspects.
The Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Mohammad Mustafa says despite the ceasefire, the death toll is rising daily.
“The most important priority for us is what's happening for our people in Gaza today. People are still dying. Every single day. People are still dying. More than 450 people in Gaza have been killed since the ceasefire.”
