DAVOS, Switzerland — Israeli fire killed at least five Palestinians in Gaza Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump pressed ahead with an international rollout of his proposed “Board of Peace.” The United Arab Emirates said it will join the body despite questions about whether the plan can stabilize Gaza beyond a fragile ceasefire, Jan. 21, 2026.
Gaza ceasefire strain as deaths reported
In a Reuters report, Palestinian medics said a 10-year-old was among three people killed by Israeli tank fire east of Deir al-Balah, and that a 13-year-old boy and a woman were killed in separate shootings in eastern Khan Younis.
The Israeli military said it killed a militant who crossed into an area under Israeli control and posed what it described as an imminent threat to troops.
The flare-up comes as Israel and Hamas remain stuck in the first phase of an October truce under Trump’s 20-point plan. Later stages call for Hamas disarmament, further Israeli withdrawal and an internationally backed administration to rebuild Gaza, but no timetable has been announced.
Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ proposal and UAE endorsement
Trump is expected to preside Thursday, Jan. 22, over a Board of Peace ceremony at the World Economic Forum. A draft charter reviewed in a separate Reuters report says he would chair the board for life, with countries serving three-year terms unless they pay $1 billion for permanent seats.
The White House has defended the provision, saying it “simply offers permanent membership” to partner countries that show “deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity.”
In a UAE Foreign Ministry statement, Abu Dhabi said President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan accepted the U.S. invitation and expressed readiness to “contribute actively” to the board’s mission. The ministry said full implementation of Trump’s Gaza plan is critical to Palestinians’ legitimate rights.
Gaza humanitarian crisis underscores urgency
The Associated Press reported that a 3-month-old girl, Shaza Abu Jarad, died from hypothermia after her family found her unresponsive in their tent in Gaza City, highlighting the dangers facing displaced families during Gaza’s cold, wet winter.
In its latest U.N. humanitarian situation update, OCHA said Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported 71,439 deaths and 171,324 injuries since Oct. 7, 2023, and that 449 Palestinians have been reported killed since the ceasefire took effect.
Those figures trace back to the Hamas-led assault that began the war; Israel later revised the Oct. 7 death toll to around 1,200, according to Reuters.
Weeks into the conflict, the UAE said it would establish a field hospital in Gaza, Reuters reported, and the U.N. Security Council later demanded an immediate ceasefire in March 2024.
Trump has said the Board of Peace “might” replace the United Nations but added, “I believe you got to let the U.N. continue.” Whether the new board can shift Gaza from truce to longer-term arrangements remains uncertain.
