00:00President Donald Trump has formally
00:27invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join his newly announced Board of Peace
00:33for Gaza, a powerful body set to oversee the territory's post-war governance,
00:39reconstruction and security. The move signals a dramatic expansion of India's role in Middle
00:45East diplomacy and places New Delhi at the center of one of the world's most volatile conflicts.
00:51Indian officials confirmed the invitation on Sunday after the U.S. ambassador to India,
00:58Sergio Gore, shared Trump's letter to Modi on social media. Sources say New Delhi has the
01:04invitation in hand but has not yet responded. The Board of Peace is a cornerstone of Trump's
01:11Gaza peace plan. It is designed to supervise a temporary transitional governance in Gaza,
01:17replacing Hamas's control with a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee backed by
01:24international oversight. First unveiled in September 2025, Trump's plan followed a White
01:31House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas later agreed to release all
01:37remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a breakthrough that paved the way for
01:43the board. Trump is expected to chair the board himself alongside selected heads of state and senior
01:50figures, including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. The board will also manage funding for
01:57Gaza's redevelopment until Palestinian Authority reforms are completed. Pakistan confirmed on Sunday
02:04that Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif has also been invited to join the Board of Peace, underscoring Trump's
02:11attempt to bring regional rivals into the same diplomatic framework. Alongside governance, the U.S. is
02:18working to assemble a temporary international stabilization force for Gaza. Talks are ongoing
02:24with multiple countries about troop contributions, but India has drawn a firm line. Indian officials say
02:31New Delhi will not join the stabilization force, as it is not a U.N. mandated peacekeeping mission.
02:37However, Modi has publicly welcomed Trump's peace plan and the humanitarian pause it enabled.
02:44For decades, India has maintained that the Israel-Palestine conflict must be resolved through a two-state
02:51solution, with a sovereign Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, a stance repeatedly reaffirmed
02:58since October 7, 2023. If India accepts the invitation, it would mark one of its most direct roles yet in
03:06Middle East conflict management, balancing ties with Israel, the Arab world, and the West, while navigating
03:13domestic and regional sensitivities. For now, New Delhi is weighing its options. But Trump's invitation makes one
03:21thing clear. The future of Gaza, and the balance of power around it, may soon involve India at the highest diplomatic level.
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