Davos: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (January 22) warned Hamas of swift military action if it fails to give up its weapons, as he unveiled his Gaza-focused “Board of Peace” with the backing of 35 countries at the World Economic Forum in Davos, while admitting that the Ukraine war has proved “probably the most difficult” conflict to resolve.
Presiding over a high-profile signing ceremony attended by world leaders and senior diplomats, Trump framed Hamas disarmament as the first test of the new body and repeated his claim that his presidency has already ended multiple wars, with another settlement “coming very soon”.
“If Hamas doesn’t agree to give up weapons, they’re going to be blown away,” Trump said, adding that Washington would know “over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks” whether the group intends to comply.
The ceremony marked the formal signing of the Board of Peace charter, an initiative initially designed to stabilize Gaza’s fragile ceasefire through oversight of enforcement, reconstruction and security coordination. Trump, however, made clear that he sees the board taking on a broader global role.
Trump was joined at the signing table by leaders from Bahrain and Morocco, while other leaders walked up in pairs to add their signatures. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev was among those present. Countries that have committed to the board include Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina and Indonesia, while Russia said it is considering joining.
“What we’re doing is so important,” Trump said. “This is something I really wanted to be here and do, and I could think of no better place. After signing the documents, Trump held them up to the cameras before inviting other leaders to follow.
Trump said he would serve as the inaugural chairman of the board and described it in sweeping terms. “It has the potential to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created,” he said. “Just about every country wants to be a part of it.”
War has to end: Trump to PutinPresident Donald Trump said he had a good meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on January 22, and his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin is that "war has to end". "I met President Zelenskyy here; the meeting was good. We (US delegation) are meeting President Putin today or tomorrow," he said on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum. Asked what his message would be to Putin, Trump said, "The war has to end. A lot of people have been killed". |
