Washington: India attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on Gaza on Thursday as an observer nation, according to the official attendee list.

The Indian delegation was led by Namgya Khampa, Charge d’Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. India has not formally joined the Board, which was established by the US to oversee the redevelopment and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Trump announced that the United States would commit USD 10 billion to the initiative, which includes 27 member countries such as Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the global leaders invited to participate in the Board, formed under the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

India had not been represented at the January 22 ceremony in Davos, where Trump unveiled the Board of Peace, aimed at fostering lasting peace in Gaza and potentially addressing other global conflicts.

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The Board has been viewed by some as a rival to the United Nations, with Trump previously suggesting it “might” replace the UN, citing shortcomings in the international body’s effectiveness.

PTI