'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative

The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

In a press statement issued from New Delhi, IPSN said the proposed board — with Trump as chair and including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — would further aggravate the suffering of Palestinians rather than address their long-standing political and humanitarian concerns. The statement was signed by IPSN representatives Ranjan Solomon, John Dayal, Maimoona Mollah and Vineet Tiwari.

According to IPSN, the initiative, presented as a framework for reconstruction and governance in Gaza and Palestine and already projected as being “in force,” prioritises external political and corporate interests over Palestinian autonomy, rights and self-determination. The organisation alleged that the plan effectively hands over control of Gaza to Israel while excluding Palestinians from meaningful participation in decisions about their own future.

Citing data from the Gaza Health Ministry and reports by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNRWA, IPSN said that since October 7, 2023, at least 72,437 Palestinians have been killed, 171,324 injured, and around 1.9 million displaced — nearly 90 per cent of Gaza’s pre-war population. It added that Gaza City, along with large parts of Khan Younis and Rafah, has been reduced to a “bombed-out landscape,” with widespread destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and other essential infrastructure.

The statement criticised the composition of the proposed Gaza board, alleging that its founding executive committee consists largely of US government figures, corporate leaders and individuals perceived as being closely aligned with Israeli interests or hostile to Palestinian aspirations. IPSN pointed to the confirmed participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom it described as the “chief architect of the mayhem” in Gaza.

Other named members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel. An additional executive group reportedly includes Jared Kushner, Witkoff, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, UAE minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay and Dutch Middle East expert Sigrid Kaag.

IPSN questioned the motives of several members, citing Kushner’s 2024 remarks describing Gaza’s coastline as having “development potential” and suggesting temporary relocation of civilians. It also highlighted links between key board members and major real estate, investment and financial interests.

The organisation objected to the reported requirement that participating countries commit at least USD 1 billion, while Palestinian authorities and civil society representatives are excluded from direct involvement. According to IPSN, such financial thresholds would automatically bar Palestinians from influencing decisions that directly affect their governance and reconstruction.

The statement also referred to ongoing proceedings at the International Criminal Court, noting that arrest warrants have been pursued against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, including targeting civilians and restricting humanitarian aid. IPSN claimed that more than 80 per cent of Gaza’s housing has been damaged or destroyed.

IPSN argued that the proposed board focuses on selective regional partnerships and collaboration with Israel while ignoring core issues such as the Gaza blockade, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Palestinian self-determination under international law.

Calling for an alternative approach, IPSN said reconstruction of Gaza must be led by Palestinians themselves, with international support that respects their legal rights, priorities and entitlements, including the right of return and access to essential services. It urged the international community — including the United Nations, the European Union and countries of the Global South — to push for inclusive frameworks, legal accountability for violations of international law, compensation for victims, and transparent, locally driven rebuilding efforts centred on Palestinian well-being.

The Indo-Palestine Solidarity Network is a collective of activists and people’s organisations based in New Delhi and Goa, working on issues of human rights, democracy and peace. For further information, IPSN has provided contact details of its representatives, including Ranjan Solomon, John Dayal, Maimoona Mollah and Vineet Tiwari.

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