Trump invited Tokayev and Kazakhstan to join the Gaza Peace Council

Tokayev accepted Trump's invitation, making Kazakhstan a founding member of the Gaza Peace Council, marking the first time a Central Asian country has deeply intervened in the Middle East peace process.

Ruslan Zelduy, aide and press secretary to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, stated on January 19, 2026, that President Tokayev had accepted US President Donald Trump's offer to join the Gaza Peace Council. According to Tengri News, Zelduy noted, "It would be inappropriate to conceal the fact that I received a formal invitation from President Donald Trump after a series of statements from other world leaders."

In fact, President Tokayev was one of the first world leaders to receive a formal invitation to join the Peace Council, and Kazakhstan was invited to become one of the founding members. This move marks a significant shift in Kazakhstan's foreign policy and the first time a Central Asian country has formally participated in core Middle Eastern affairs.

01 The Establishment and Structure of the Peace Commission

On January 16, 2026, the White House officially issued a statement announcing the members of the US-led "Peace Commission" for the Gaza Strip. The commission is chaired by US President Trump, and its founding executive Council members include Secretary of State Rubio, Presidential Envoy Witkov, Trump's son-in-law Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Blair, among others.

According to the White House's "20-Point Plan" on a ceasefire and post-war arrangements in Gaza released last September, the "Peace Commission" will oversee the post-war transition and governance of the Gaza Strip. The commission has two high-level Councils: a founding executive Council focusing on investment and foreign affairs; and a Gaza executive Council responsible for overseeing all on-the-ground work of the transitional administration.

The 11-member Gaza executive Council includes Kushner, Witkov, Blair, Turkish Foreign Minister Fedan, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Sawadi, and other international representatives. The White House statement also appointed US Major General Jasper Jeffers as commander of the International Stabilization Force, responsible for security in the Gaza Strip.

02 Kazakhstan's Strategic Considerations

Kazakhstan's acceptance of the invitation to join the Peace Commission at this time reflects its diversified diplomatic strategy. Zeldhu stated that President Tokayev "sent a letter to the US President expressing sincere gratitude and confirming his agreement to join the new institution," while reiterating Kazakhstan's determination to make a tangible contribution to achieving sustainable peace in the Middle East.

Kazakhstan had not previously disclosed this information because "it would be inappropriate to make a statement on this matter before the Donald Trump administration issued its statement." This cautious approach reflects Kazakhstan's balancing strategy in handling relations with major powers as a Central Asian country.

By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan announced its accession to the US-led Abraham Accords and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with Israel. This move already signifies the expansion of the geographical scope of US Middle East policy from the Middle East to Central Asia, and joining the Peace Commission is a continuation and deepening of this policy.

03 Regional and International Reactions

The establishment and composition of the Peace Commission have elicited different reactions from various parties. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on the 17th, stating that the composition of the Gaza Executive Council was not coordinated with Israel and contradicted Israeli policy. Israel strongly opposes the involvement of Turkey and Qatar, as both countries have consistently criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement on January 17th expressing dissatisfaction with the composition of the Council, stating that it "meets Israeli standards and aims to serve the interests of the occupiers." Notably, no Palestinian names appear on the published Council list.

Meanwhile, Hamas senior official Bassim Naeem issued a statement on January 15th saying that he was prepared to transfer administrative power in the Gaza Strip to a technical bureaucratic Council. Palestinian President Abbas also expressed support for the technical bureaucratic Council to manage the Gaza Strip during the transition period.

04 Challenges Facing the Peace Council

The primary challenge facing the Peace Council is the unclear definition of its responsibilities. Niu Xinchun, a professor at the China-Arab States Research Institute of Ningxia University, pointed out that the responsibilities of the Peace Council and the International Stabilization Force are unclear, and its members are all foreigners. Its work in the Gaza Strip requires the consent of Hamas, the Palestinian National Authority, Israel, and other parties, among whom there are significant conflicts.

The issue of Hamas disarmament is another major problem. According to the "20-point plan," Hamas must disarm, but Hamas firmly opposes this demand. Meanwhile, the timetable and scope for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza remain unclear.

The formation of an international stabilization force also faces difficulties. To date, no country has committed to sending personnel to participate in the force. No country is willing to fight Hamas in Gaza, casting doubt on the Peace Council's ability to implement its policies.

05 Power Balance in Gaza Governance

The core issue of future governance in the Gaza Strip lies in the distribution of power. On the one hand, the Palestinian Technical Bureaucratic Council was established on January 14th and will manage the Gaza Strip; on the other hand, the Peace Council will supervise it.

Wang Jin, director of the Center for International Strategic Studies at Northwest University, analyzes that the two institutions have a supervisory and supervised relationship, similar to that of a board of directors and a professional management team. If the Peace Council is widely involved, it may mean greater external intervention, rendering the Palestinian Technical Bureaucratic Council a mere shell; however, if the Palestinian Technical Bureaucratic Council holds too much power, it may be unable to obtain sufficient aid and assistance.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in November 2025 supporting the US "20-point peace plan," welcoming the establishment of a "Peace Commission," and authorizing the commission to form a temporary international stabilization force in Gaza. However, China and Russia abstained from the vote. Fu Cong, China's Permanent Representative to the UN, stated, "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, and any post-war arrangements should respect the will of the Palestinian people."

The future effectiveness of the Peace Commission remains to be seen. Alwa Ashur, a Palestinian in Gaza and a freelance writer, said, "If the Peace Commission can resolve all these crises, we certainly welcome it. But if it can't, what is its purpose?"

Ultimately, whether the strong criticism can be quelled depends on whether the new members of the Peace Commission can quickly promote change to genuinely improve the daily lives of Palestinians, and crucially, take further concrete measures to ultimately achieve lasting peace.

For Kazakhstan, participating in this commission is both an opportunity and a challenge. It is an important step for Kazakhstan, as a major power in Central Asia, to expand its influence on the international stage, and a significant test of its diplomatic wisdom.