Makabayan urges Philippines to reject Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

The Makabayan bloc on Friday urged Filipinos and the Philippine government to reject any invitation to join US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza, calling it a scheme that would legitimize US occupation and profiteering.

The bloc said the initiative is not about peace but is meant to bypass the United Nations and impose a US-dominated framework that serves what it described as imperialist interests.

Makabayan said the United States and Israel are responsible for the destruction in Gaza, citing US-backed Israeli military operations that devastated homes, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure. It warned that Washington now seeks to profit from Gaza’s reconstruction while maintaining control over Palestinian land and resources.

The group also criticized the composition of the board’s proposed executive committee, citing figures such as former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, whom it described as profiteers rather than peacemakers.

According to Makabayan, the board’s charter does not mention Gaza and instead proposes creating a new international body that would undermine the UN. It noted that Trump would serve as chairman with veto power over key decisions.

“The fate of Gaza must be determined by Palestinians alone,” the group said, stressing that Palestinians have the right to self-determination, sovereignty, and control over their resources and future.

Makabayan warned that Philippine participation could make the country complicit in what it called illegal occupation and exploitation, raising concerns that Filipino workers could be used as cheap labor in reconstruction projects that exclude Palestinians.

The bloc pointed out that several countries, including France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia, have already rejected invitations to join the board.

Makabayan reiterated its call for an end to US military aid to Israel, accountability for war crimes in Gaza, and a reconstruction process led by Palestinians without foreign occupation or conditions.