Spain has refused to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza, citing violations of international law and the exclusion of Palestinian representation, even as several Muslim-majority countries move forward with participation in the US-led initiative.
Speaking at the European Union headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain would not take part in the board, stressing that the future of Palestine must be determined by Palestinians themselves and not imposed through externally designed frameworks.
“The future of Palestine as a whole should be settled by Palestinians,” Sánchez said, adding that the initiative diverges from international law and undermines the role of the United Nations.
Spain’s decision stands in contrast to the participation of a number of Muslim-majority states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Jordan, which have agreed to join or engage with Trump’s Board of Peace, according to US officials.
The board is part of Trump’s broader 20-point Gaza plan, presented by Washington as a mechanism to oversee post-war governance, reconstruction and security arrangements in the enclave following Israel’s military campaign. Israel has confirmed its participation in the initiative.
The founding executive board includes Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK prime minister Tony Blair and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, figures known for their close political alignment with Israel. Trump has named himself chair of the board.
Despite the stated goal of stabilisation and peace, the Board of Peace does not include Palestinian representatives. Instead, the plan proposes the formation of a Palestinian technocratic committee to administer Gaza under international supervision.
Sánchez specifically cited the absence of Palestinian voices as a key reason for Spain’s refusal, reinforcing Madrid’s long-standing support for multilateralism and a UN-based approach to conflict resolution.
Several Western allies have also shown reluctance to join the initiative. Canada’s invitation was withdrawn after Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly criticised US global policy, while other European Union states, including France and the United Kingdom, have yet to formally participate.
The contrasting positions have drawn attention to the political contradictions surrounding the Gaza plan, as Muslim-majority governments engage with a US-led framework criticised for sidelining Palestinian self-determination, while Spain has publicly rejected the initiative on legal and representational grounds.
The developments come as Gaza remains under severe humanitarian strain, with more than 71,500 Palestinians killed since October 2023, and as Israeli military operations and blockades continue despite ceasefire efforts. The United States continues to provide Israel with diplomatic and military backing while advancing a governance plan that critics say reframes the Palestinian issue as an administrative challenge rather than a question of occupation and national rights.
