The rumors were true. The White House officially announced the formation of the “Gaza Board of Peace”—a 9-nation coalition tasked with the “security and reconstruction” of the Gaza Strip for the next 5 years. The list of member nations was expected: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Turkey. But the name at the bottom of the list shocked everyone: Pakistan.
Islamabad has confirmed that it will be sending a contingent of “Engineering Corps and Security Observers” to Rafah next month. While the government says we are going there to help rebuild, the reality on the ground suggests this “Board” might be a trap.
Here is what the Gaza Board of Peace actually is, and why Gazans are terrified of it.
1. What is the “Board”? (The Trump Plan)
Let’s cut through the diplomatic language. This is not a UN Peacekeeping mission. This is a US-brokered administration designed to govern Gaza so that Israel doesn’t have to.
- The Mandate: The Board will control the borders, distribute aid, and—crucially—”prevent the resurgence of militant groups.”
- The Funding: Paid for by the Gulf states (Saudi/UAE).
- The Boots: Provided by non-Arab Muslim nations (Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia) to avoid the “occupier” label.
2. The View from the Ruins: What Gazans Think
If you speak to activists in Deir el-Balah today, you won’t hear gratitude. You will hear rage. To the average Palestinian, this Board looks like “Occupation by Proxy.” They see this as a way for Israel to wash its hands of the destruction while Muslim armies do the dirty work of policing the population.
- The Sentiment: “We resisted the IDF for two years not to be ruled by a committee from Islamabad and Ankara.”
3. Pakistan’s Risky Involvement
Why did we say yes? Diplomatic sources suggest the pressure from Washington and Riyadh was immense. Pakistan, still navigating its economic recovery, likely couldn’t say no to the financial incentives attached to this “Peace Deal.”
- The Official Line: “We are going to build hospitals and clear the rubble.”
- The Danger: If a Pakistani soldier is attacked by a local resistance fighter who sees him as a collaborator, how does Islamabad react? We are walking into a minefield.
4. The “Demilitarization” Trap
The Board’s primary goal is the “total demilitarization” of Gaza. This means Pakistani and Turkish troops will be tasked with finding and destroying tunnels. Imagine the optics: The Pakistan Army, which is loved in Palestine, being forced to raid homes in Khan Younis to confiscate weapons on behalf of a US-Israeli agreement. It is a PR nightmare waiting to happen.
The Verdict
The Gaza Board of Peace sounds good on paper. Who doesn’t want peace? But peace imposed by foreign powers—even Muslim ones—is rarely peaceful. Pakistan must ensure its role remains strictly humanitarian (building schools, treating the wounded). If we cross the line into “policing” the people of Gaza, we risk losing the moral high ground we have held for 75 years. Another reason to be vary, Because we all know what peace the ceasefire brought.
Do you support Pakistan sending troops to Gaza under this Board? Let me know in the comments.