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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 18, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 18, 2026
UN spokesperson, asked about Gaza Peace Board, says countries are ‘free to associate’
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a news conference at the COP30 UN Climate Summit, November 20, 2025, in Belem, Brazil. (AP/Fernando Llano)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “believes member states are free to associate in different groups,” his spokesperson says when asked about a draft US charter for a Board of Peace.
“The United Nations will continue with its mandated work,” deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq says.
The charter of the Board of Peace, which was founded to oversee Gaza’s postwar development, does not mention the Strip. That may suggest that the US wants the Board of Peace to assist in the resolution of other conflicts around the globe. However, the mandate of the board approved in November by the Security Council is limited to Gaza and lasts only until the end of 2027.
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