France set to decline US invitation to join Gaza Board of Peace: Report

ISTANBUL

France does not intend to accept the invitation from US President Donald Trump to join an international Board of Peace aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict, sources close to President Emmanuel Macron told BFM TV on Monday.

France “does not intend, at this stage, to give a favorable response” to the US invitation, a source said.

"The charter goes beyond the framework of Gaza alone. It raises major questions, particularly regarding respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which must under no circumstances be called into question," the source added.

The Foreign Ministry also said in a statement seen by BFM that they are reviewing the provisions of the proposed text and reiterated their attachment to the UN Charter: "It remains the cornerstone of effective multilateralism, in which international law, the sovereign equality of states and the peaceful settlement of disputes take precedence over arbitrariness, power politics and war."

The White House announced the formation of the Board of Peace on Friday, saying it is intended to “play an essential role in fulfilling” the 20 points of Trump’s plan to permanently end Israel’s war on Gaza and rebuild the enclave, as well as “providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”

The US also said it has established a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to implement phase two of Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, alongside a founding Executive Board and a Gaza Executive Board to support the committee.