WASHINGTON, D.C.: Despite many U.S. allies opting not to participate, U.S. President Donald Trump inaugurated his Board of Peace that he claimed would help in maintaining a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas.

Following a week in which his proposal was overshadowed by threats to take over Greenland and then a sharp retreat from that idea, Trump used a January 22 speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos to push the project again.

Trump said that 59 countries had agreed to join, but only 19 were at the event. He told the group, which included countries like Azerbaijan, Paraguay, and Hungary, "You're the most powerful people in the world."

"This isn't the United States, this is for the world," he said, adding, "I think we can spread it out to other things as we succeed in Gaza."

Ali Shaath, the head of a new, future technocratic government in Gaza, announced at the event that the Rafah border crossing, which Israel controls,  will open in both directions next week. But Israel neither confirmed nor denied the statement, only saying that it would consider the matter next week.

The peace board was initially planned as a small group of world leaders to oversee a ceasefire in Gaza. But it has grown into a much bigger plan. Because of doubts about who is in the group and what powers it will have, some countries that are usually close to the U.S. decided not to join.

Countries that did not join include Russia, China, the U.K., Canada, Australia, India, and most of Europe. Norway and Sweden said they would not join the board. France said no, because it worries the board could try to replace the United Nations. Canada had not decided, but Trump, who had initially invited Canada, retracted the invitation in a much-publicized social media snub.

On his flight back from Davos to Washington, Trump said some leaders, such as Italy's prime minister and Poland's president, told him they needed approval from their parliaments before they could join.

Earlier, Trump said the board would take over some of the United Nations' jobs. But in his speech, he said the two would work together. He also criticized the U.N., saying it has not done enough to stop conflicts in some parts of the world.

Some countries questioned why Trump invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and other strong-handed leaders. Putin said Russia is still talking with its close partners before deciding whether to join.

The Kremlin said Putin plans to discuss giving US$1 billion to the peace board for humanitarian aid, if Russia can use funds the U.S. had earlier frozen. When reporters asked Trump about this, he said, "If he's using his money, that's great."