ISTANBUL
The US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs said Saturday that the Gaza Board of Peace initiative is a “great success story” and complements the work of the UN.
Speaking at a session titled “Emerging Partnerships in International Peace Mediation” during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Massad Boulos said many stakeholders are involved in implementing different aspects of the plan.
“There are hundreds of people, probably thousands, from numerous countries and organizations working together hand in hand towards the implementation of various aspects of this plan,” he said.
“It’s absolutely complementary to the UN. It’s in no way taking any role away from the UN,” Boulos added.
He said that Washington sees strong potential in the UN despite the need for “reforms.”
“The UN has a great potential … it requires, of course, reform, and these reforms are ongoing,” the adviser said.
“We work very closely with the UN, and we shall continue to do so,” he added.
In January this year, the Board of Peace was established on US President Donald Trump’s initiative as part of efforts toward a peaceful settlement in the Gaza Strip. Washington has said additional states have since joined the initiative.
A US-backed ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since October last year, halting Israel’s two-year onslaught that has killed more than 72,340 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 172,250 people since October 2023.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, killing 765 Palestinians and injuring 2,140 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
