The "Peace Council" in Gaza faces challenges from the outset, following France's refusal to join and Israeli reservations, amid questions regarding its mission. The council, which includes global leaders led by U.S. President Donald Trump, is causing diplomatic tension between Washington and Tel Aviv, and reveals European concerns that it could replace the United Nations.

Israel has been asked to join the new Peace Council that will oversee the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, according to an Israeli official quoted by AP. The official stated that it is unknown whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the offer.

Russia, Belarus, Slovenia, and Thailand were also among the latest countries to receive invitations, along with the European Commission.

It is unclear how many leaders have been asked to join the council, and the large number of invitations sent, including to countries that do not agree with each other, raises questions about the council's tasks and decision-making processes. Israel's potential role in a council responsible for implementing a ceasefire agreement directly relevant to it is also unknown.

Trump referenced in his invitation messages that the body "will embark on a new and bold approach to resolving global conflicts," indicating it may rival the United Nations Security Council.

France does not plan to join the council "at this stage" despite receiving an invitation, according to Politico. A French official told AP that the issue raises questions, particularly regarding respect for United Nations principles and structure.

When informed that French President Emmanuel Macron is unlikely to join the council, Trump said: "Well, no one wants him because he'll be leaving office soon."

A statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday stated that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan accepted the invitation from the United States to join the council.

The statement added that UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan "confirmed that the UAE's decision reflects the importance of the full implementation of the 20-point peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump regarding Gaza, which is essential for achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people."

King Mohammed VI of Morocco accepted joining. Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Argentina also joined. Russian President Vladimir Putin received the invitation. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is ready to participate. The Thai Foreign Ministry stated it received an invitation. The European Commission said its President Ursula von der Leyen will speak with other EU leaders regarding Gaza. 

Palestinians in the devastated Gaza sector, (AFP).

Netanyahu confirmed that disputes with the United States over the formation of the advisory committee for the next phase in Gaza will not harm his relationship with Trump, emphasizing his rejection of any Turkish or Qatari forces' participation in the sector. Simultaneously, Netanyahu's office announced that the executive council emerging from the Peace Council was not coordinated with the Israeli government and contradicts its policy. In a more stringent stance, right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich rejected the Peace Council, calling it an "unfair deal," advocating for its cancellation, and imposing Israeli military administration on Gaza.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel openly opposes the formation of an American committee created to oversee Gaza, which includes Turkey and Qatar.

Israel affairs writer and journalist Nohad Abu Ghosh told "Annahar" that "the French refusal differs in its reasons and essence from the Israeli reservations. Israeli reservations are likely intended to appease some extreme right-wing circles that reject Turkey and Qatar's involvement in any form overseeing the applications of Trump's plan in Gaza. Otherwise, this reservation is a kind of wrangling, as Netanyahu was aware of and accompanying all formulas, and may have even contributed to their formation, including the Peace Council and the Palestinian technocrat body, and most recent American positions align almost entirely with Israeli positions."

He indicates that "the disagreement between Israel and the Trump administration is marginal and limited, essentially related to each party's priorities: the American administration is interested in appeasing its allies and having a broader vision of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, while Israel views Gaza mainly as a domestic and security issue and wishes to single-handedly control it without unwanted parties' involvement."

He adds: "The French position is entirely clear and reflects a broad trend in the European Union, which fears the Peace Council advocated by Trump could replace the United Nations and international bodies."

He points out that "Trump, as some see it, does not limit his activity to the Middle East alone but seeks, in various files like Greenland and Venezuela, to build a new international system, apart from international laws and the United Nations, tailored to American hegemony, attracting countries and regimes close to it."

Washington is expected to announce its official list of members shortly, probably during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Members of the council will oversee an executive committee responsible for implementing the challenging second phase of the Gaza peace plan, including deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, and reconstructing war-torn territories.

The Trump-led Peace Council faces rejection and difficulties from the start, with questions regarding its legitimacy. Will it succeed in performing its required tasks in Gaza?