Lula urges Trump to limit Gaza ‘Peace Commission’ in appeal on governance, Venezuela and bilateral agenda
The exchange comes as Washington enforces the international framework associated with the post-war administration of Gaza
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday in a nearly hour-long conversation that combined issues of global governance with a bilateral agenda. Citing sources at the Planalto Palace, Brazilian media reported that Lula had argued that Trump’s proposed “Peace Committee” should be limited solely to the future administration of the Gaza Strip and should also consider the creation of a Palestinian state, an approach that these sources said Trump did not share.
The exchange comes as Washington enforces the international framework associated with the post-war administration of Gaza. In a recent statement, the White House outlined an institutional proposal to oversee the work of the “National Committee for the Governance of Gaza (NCAG),” including an “Executive Council” and a “Peace Committee” to provide political support and operational oversight.
In Brazil, the proposal was handled cautiously. According to local reports citing diplomatic sources, Brasília has not issued a formal response to Washington’s invitation to join, and Itamarata officials are said to be considering the initiative with visible reluctance. Lula, who often frames foreign policy as a balance between principle and pragmatism, reportedly told Trump that the mechanism should not extend beyond Gaza and that any framework for withdrawal requires a political horizon that addresses the Palestinian issue.
The leaders also discussed Venezuela following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this month, according to the same accounts maintained by Brazilian affiliates. According to the reports, Lula emphasized the need to preserve peace and stability in South America and respect the sovereignty of neighboring countries — in line with his public advocacy of multilateral norms. The matter has regional weight as Brazil tries to prevent the crisis from escalating into a bloc-led confrontation.
Economic matters were also on the agenda. The Brazilian government, as quoted by local media, said Trump “praised” the trajectory of bilateral relations and the growth prospects for both economies. The call also touched on expanding cooperation against organized crime and money laundering, with positive signals on both sides, according to the data released.
Beyond the operational details, the dispute is political: Lula is trying to defend a diplomatic tradition rooted in negotiations and multilateral forums, while Trump is pushing for a more US-oriented ad hoc architecture. Al Jazeera reported that the “Peace Board” concept had received support from some countries, while raising reservations in several European capitals, highlighting a wider debate over legitimacy, mandate and scope.
Brazil has not announced a final decision on the invitation. But the call underscored Lula’s red line: if the “Peace Committee” moves forward, he wants it to be limited to Gaza and not transformed into a broader geopolitical tool.
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