Europe Seeks Middle Ground on Trump's Peace Council
European countries are finding a way to work with President Donald Trump's Peace Council. They initially ignored the group. Now, they are collaborating on humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. This cooperation comes with considerable caution. The European Commission is very careful about partnerships. The Council's ambitious goals for disarmament and reconstruction in Gaza remain largely theoretical. Nevertheless, the organization has become a significant political force. It is closely linked to Trump's associates and has a visible presence. Europe is exploring ways to work with the Council without fully endorsing it.
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Voters Demand Stronger Congressional Oversight of Presidential PowerNorway's Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, stated that traditional donors are willing to work in parallel. They refuse to send funds directly to the Peace Council. Norway is not an EU member. However, it coordinates donor efforts for Palestinians closely with the European bloc. Eide prefers operating through established institutions like the World Bank. The Peace Council does not publish its budget or internal structure. It has an account at the World Bank. It also holds separate assets at JPMorgan Chase. „The Council's mechanisms will not align with our reporting regulations,”the Norwegian minister said. The organization did not respond to requests for comment.
European caution was evident at a briefing during the UN General Assembly. European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, announced plans to sign two EU-funded projects. These projects will be implemented with UN agencies. They will align with the Peace Council's priorities. Šuica described the collaboration pragmatically. „The key is to remain pragmatic,”she stated. The European Commission emphasized the need for coordination. „Given the massive needs for immediate recovery in Gaza, coordination and alignment at all levels are necessary to deliver results on the ground.”The Peace Council was announced a year ago at the General Assembly. Its first meeting was in February. The European Union and most member states declined to join. They feared it might replace the United Nations. Since then, European nations have invited Council representatives to meetings. They have also attended Security Council briefings with Council head Nickolay Mladenov.
Joint projects mark the first concrete step towards cooperation. Even the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) shows reluctant acceptance. Israel and the US have sought to marginalize UNRWA. Christian Saunders, UNRWA's acting head, called the Peace Council „the only game in town.”He urged everyone to support it.
Romania's Foreign Minister, Oana-Silvia Țoiu, described
Romania's Foreign Minister, Oana-Silvia Țoiu, described the Council's role diplomatically. Romania works with the UN and EU. „Yes, where we see complementarity, of course, we support what is happening at the Peace Council level.”She attended a meeting with Mladenov at the UN. This approach is not universal. A French official, speaking anonymously, stressed that „the UN should remain the primary forum for facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza.”They also emphasized resolving disputes and advancing the political process.
The Peace Council sought and received UN approval last November. It was designated a „transitional administration.”It would establish a framework and coordinate funding for Gaza's redevelopment. However, it operates independently. Critics argue this is a concession to Trump and Israel. „It's a gateway to Washington at the top and Palestinian technocrats at the base,”said Amjad Iraqi of the International Crisis Group. He noted that „what is decided is decided by Israel.”He pointed to Israeli restrictions on heavy and reconstruction equipment. Israel states this will continue until Hamas disarms. The Peace Council's plan to disarm Hamas is stalled. Israel continues lethal strikes on alleged Hamas targets in Gaza. These strikes are on a smaller scale than last year.
An Arab diplomat from a Peace Council member country stated the Council discusses civilian casualties with Israel „in a private capacity.”They are debating if this is sufficient. Minister Țoiu said that for Gaza's scale, „you need the big players on board.”This includes „the US as a central facilitator of what can happen as pressure for Hamas disarmament.”The Peace Council claims significant progress. This includes talks for a formal ceasefire and hostage release. Trump highlighted this achievement at the General Assembly. It has also formed 500 troops for a UN-authorized International Stabilization Force. This force aims to stabilize Gaza and ensure its demilitarization. The Council also claims it is building the necessary infrastructure for governing the enclave.