Trump invites Erdogan and Sisi to join Gaza 'Peace Council'

2026-01-17 16:42:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US President Donald Trump has invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join a "Peace Council" that will oversee the interim government of Gaza, which has been in a fragile ceasefire since October, the Turkish presidency announced.

"The United Nations Security Council, with Resolution 2803, decided to support the Comprehensive Plan for Ending the Conflict in Gaza announced by US President Donald Trump. Within this framework, a Peace Council and bodies responsible for ensuring security and reconstruction are being established in Gaza. On January 16, 2026, US President Donald Trump, in his capacity as the founding chairman of the Peace Council, sent a letter inviting our President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to become a founding member of the Peace Council," said the head of the Turkish Presidency's Communications Directorate, Burhanettin Duran, in a statement published on X.

At the same time, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati stated in a press conference that he is considering Donald Trump's invitation to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to participate in the so-called "Peace Council" for Gaza.

Yesterday, the White House announced several members of the Peace Council, which Trump will chair. According to the White House announcement, the Peace Council will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, billionaire businessman Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and policy adviser Robert Gabriel.

Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov will take over as High Representative for Gaza. Major General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed commander of the International Stabilization Force in the Palestinian enclave.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was announced as one of the members of the “Executive Council for Gaza,” along with Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, Mark Rowan, as well as Qatar’s top diplomat Ali Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, UAE Minister of International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimi, Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabbay, former UN humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag and Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN envoy to the Middle East. /CNA