According to China Daily, Kushner delivered his presentation as Trump and various world leaders gathered to ratify the charter of the Board of Peace, a new body designed to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction process. The initiative has sparked considerable controversy among international observers who question whether it could undermine the United Nations' traditional role in global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Major European nations have declined to join the Board of Peace, instead reaffirming their commitment to the UN Charter. Following an emergency summit that concluded after midnight on Thursday, European Council President Antonio Costa stated that the EU will defend itself against any form of coercion. He expressed serious doubts about the board's scope, governance structure, and compatibility with established UN frameworks.
Spain has explicitly rejected participation in the initiative. "We appreciate the invitation, but we decline," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters after the Brussels summit, citing his country's commitment to multilateralism and the UN system.
Timeline Concerns
Kushner, who helped broker the current ceasefire in place since October, claimed that Gaza's devastated cities could be rebuilt within three years if security conditions allow. "In the Middle East, they build cities like this in three years," he said during his 10-minute speech. "And so stuff like this is very doable, if we make it happen."
However, this optimistic timeline contradicts UN assessments and Palestinian expectations. The UN Office for Project Services reports that Gaza contains over 60 million metric tons of rubble—enough to fill nearly 3,000 container ships. Clearing this debris alone will require more than seven years, with additional time needed for demining operations. Rights groups note that rubble clearance has barely begun, as Israel has restricted the entry of heavy machinery into areas where most Palestinians reside.
Expert Criticism
International experts have raised fundamental concerns about the proposal's feasibility. Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an international lawyer at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, called the concept "unrealistic," noting that Israel would never accept numerous high-rise buildings providing clear views of its nearby military bases. Ayman Yousef, a professor at the Arab American University in Jenin, warned that such initiatives "will weaken the UN and weaken its mission and bodies" regarding the Palestinian question.
Aaron David Miller, a former US Middle East negotiator at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, summarized the skepticism bluntly: "This thing doesn't have the bandwidth and doesn't have the set of guiding principles that would enable serious countries to join."
Photo: China Daily