The President of the United States, Donald Trump, invited President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to join the so-called “peace council” for Gaza. Lula has not yet responded to the invitation. The PT member has always been opposed to military actions in Palestine. He even called the case genocide.
“I don’t think there’s a war in Gaza. There’s a genocide. In Gaza there’s a highly sophisticated army killing women and children. And even the Jewish people themselves are against it,” said Lula in September last year, shortly before the agreement signed the following month to end the war in Gaza.
The American government announced the council this Saturday (17). The body is part of the second phase of Washington’s plan to end the war in Palestinian territory. Trump will chair the group. Also this Saturday, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, confirmed that he had received the invitation. He shared the letter on social media. At X, he stated that it would be “an honor” to follow the initiative.
The council will have members close to the American president. Trump included United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The group will also include former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Also invited were Egyptian dictator Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump also invited billionaire businessman Marc Rowan. Robert Gabriel, Trump’s advisor on the National Security Council, completes the list of announced members. When announcing the creation of the body, Trump praised the group’s format. “I can say with certainty that it is the largest and most prestigious council ever assembled at any time and place,” wrote the American president.
2nd phase of Trump’s plan foresees peace council in Gaza and demilitarization
According to the White House, the peace council will discuss central issues for Gaza. The agenda includes “strengthening governance capacity, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale financing and capital mobilization”.
On Friday, Trump appointed American Major General Jasper Jeffers to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF). The mission will operate in the security of Gaza. The group will also train a new police force to replace Hamas.
The United States special envoy for peace in Gaza, Steve Witkoff, announced on Wednesday (14) the beginning of Phase Two of the Trump administration’s 20-point plan. He made the announcement in a post on social media.
According to Witkoff, the new stage marks the transition from the ceasefire to a political and security arrangement. The plan foresees the creation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (CNAG). The body will manage the territory during the transition period.
The plan also mandates the disarmament of all personnel considered “unauthorized” in the Gaza Strip. Witkoff stated that failure to comply with obligations “will lead to serious consequences”. He did not detail what measures might take place.
In the same publication, Witkoff highlighted the results of Phase One. According to him, the stage “guaranteed the maintenance of the ceasefire, allowed the entry of large-scale humanitarian aid and resulted in the release of all surviving hostages”. The remains of 27 of the 28 hostages killed were also reportedly returned to their families.
