Trump inaugurates Board of Peace, demands Hamas return last hostage

President Trump says second phase of Gaza peace plan dependent on Hamas returning the remains of Israeli hostage Ran Gvili, emphasizes that only afterwards can Board of Peace “get on to other things.”

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump spoke Thursday at a signing ceremony inaugurating the Board of Peace, demanding that Hamas return the body of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza.

The event, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, featured representatives from morethan a dozen countries that have agreed to join the Board of Peace.

While roughly three dozen countries have accepted the Trump administration’s invitation to join, most of the member states, including Israel, did not send officials to the ceremony.

During the gathering, both President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that while the first concern of the Board of Peace will be the Gaza Strip, the body will eventually address other conflicts as well.

“I think we can spread out to other things as we succeed with Gaza,” Trump said. “We are going to be very successful in Gaza.”

“Last October, we released a plan for an end to the war in Gaza, and it was adopted by the Security Council. Under Phase one we are going to have to very strongly maintain the Gaza ceasefire, and record humanitarian aid. You don’t hear that people are starving anymore.”

The president also reiterated his call to Hamas to locate and return the remains of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer murdered during the October 7 invasion and the last hostage held in the Gaza Strip.

Trump hinted that the implementation of the second phase of his 20-point Gaza peace plan is dependent on the return of Gvili’s body.

“I’ve been very clear that Hamas must return that last remaining deceased hostage as well. And that will be the full commitment. And then we get on to other things.”

Once Gvili’s remains are returned, Trump continued, the Board of Peace will move forward with the reconstruction of Gaza.

“Gaza will be beautifully rebuilt, and then we can spread out to other things.”