Photo: Victorgrigas

Amidst the illegal occupation, apartheid and ongoing genocide in Palestine, we – the 157 undersigned civil society organisations– reiterate our unequivocal denunciation of the World Bank's role in advancing an unlawful plan for 'reconstruction' in Gaza that fails to acknowledge the internationally recognised and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and freedom from foreign occupation, as well as to redress and reparations.

We are re-affirming our position as the World Bank Group’s Annual Meeting comes to a close because despite first sending this correspondence in April 2026 — signed at the time by over 150 civil society organisations from around the world — six months later, we have yet to receive any response. The silence with which we have been met to date appears as a further example of the opacity surrounding the institution's involvement in the so-called ‘Board of Peace’ (BoP) as well as membership on the Executive Board. It is also illustrative of the lack of options available to civil society to raise critical concerns about the BoP.

As we noted in April 2026, by joining the founding Executive Board of the ‘Board of Peace’ and taking on the role of limited Trustee for the BoP-associated Gaza Reconstruction and Development (GRAD) Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF), the World Bank is proactively enabling impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide as well as colonial governance structures that entrench and enable Israel's illegal military occupation, apartheid and genocide in Palestine.

The BoP-associated National Committee for the Administration of Gaza has yet to be granted to permission to enter Gaza by Israel; trucks of urgently needed supplies for people’s survival continue to be denied entrance, while bombs, missiles, as well as AI-guided drones continue to murder Palestinians in their homes, markets, schools, hospitals and streets on a daily basis. The Israeli armed occupation forces continue to physically assert their presence over approximately 70% of Gaza, leaving 2 million Palestinians to be squeezed into the remaining segment of land, eking out survival in makeshift tents or partially collapsed buildings, which continue to be targeted in Israel’s lethal attack.

Nearly one year since its establishment, the BoP has failed to provide any indication of publicly accessible, transparent and up-to-date information on the funds already received and deployed. No mechanisms for traceability or oversight are included on its website or in presentations, raising significant legal and reputational risks. We are also aware that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (also an acting BoP Executive Board Member) has asserted the body had been transitioned into an international Non-Governmental Organisation, which raises critical questions about lines of accountability for projects and investments advanced, as well as the rationale for the World Bank Group to house an associated FIF.

As we highlighted in prior communications, the so-called ‘Board of Peace’ is neither a UN organ nor an international organisation. Despite the UN Security Council having illegitimately, and under coercion, ‘endorsed’ the BoP in November 2025, it remains an unprecedented, unaccountable, and wholly arbitrary entity. The BoP exists outside any formal legal framework, a fact which magnifies the risks which the World Bank appears recklessly willing to accept by continuing to engage. The function of the BoP is to compound the personal interests of its so-called Chair, Donald Trump, and the interests of the State of Israel in maintaining its unlawful occupation. The World Bank must be able to account for which legal basis it rests upon to justify and explain its engagement with this entity.

Meanwhile, documentation from Gaza as well as statements from the UN High Commissioner and Special Procedures have addressed the gut-wrenching reality that contracts, evidently issued under the guidance of the Board of Peace, have led to the pulverisation and removal of rubble out of Gaza, without regard for human remains (including possible mass graves), people’s belongings, or remnants of weapons responsible for murdering tens of thousands of Palestinians —effectively leading to the erasure of evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide, and actively ensuring Israel’s settler-colonial goals of erasing Palestinians from their territory. News has also emerged in August of a BoP contract being awarded to a US company to build military facilities.

Most recently, in late September 2026, at a BoP event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the BoP Executive Board members unveiled proposed development interventions to be imposed in Gaza, including the implementation of digital IDs and the build-out of data centres within special economic zones, with no opportunity for Palestinians to be consulted, let alone provide input and decide freely whether or not to consent. Here, Gaza was referenced as a ‘big start-up’, not as an illegally occupied and besieged enclave where 2 million Palestinians still live and have the right to determine their own futures.

We therefore remain highly alarmed by the statement from World Bank Managing Director of Operations Bjerde issued in July 2026 suggesting training was being provided by the World Bank to the BoP affiliated bodies, with no accompanying public information to provide further details.

As a multilateral institution, the World Bank Group, along with member states, has an obligation to support genuinely Palestinian-led recovery and rebuilding processes that present a clear way forward, without being tethered to the violence represented by the BoP agenda.

In the attached joint statement, we outline why it is incumbent upon the World Bank to urgently disassociate from the BoP and any related funding channels. In summary, the establishment of the BoP:

• Violates international humanitarian and human rights laws, as well as Provisional Measures Orders and Advisory Opinions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), rulings of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and UN General Assembly Resolutions spanning nearly six decades;

• Violates the World Bank’s own mandate and policies, and poses legal liability risks for the World Bank management;

• Denies the Palestinian people’s collective right to self-determination and to lead the way forward for reconstruction, recovery and justice;

• Promotes dangerous notions that peace can be enforced through militarism and that reconstruction can move forward despite denying civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of an entire people; and

• Enables an illegitimate, racialised, and colonial governance model that serves the narrow corporate and geopolitical interests of its executive membership, while sidelining the realities of genocide-ravaged peoples and lands.

Accordingly, we call on the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors and management to:

• Urgently withdraw the institution from the BoP and take immediate steps to terminate the GRAD FIF;

• Publicly recognize the illegitimacy of any imposed reconstruction framework, and that rebuilding of peoples’ lives and livelihoods in Gaza cannot begin until Israeli Occupation Forces end the genocide of Palestinians and their illegal, decades-long occupation, siege, blockade and system of apartheid, in full compliance with the ICJ Provisional Measures and Advisory Opinions along with international human rights and humanitarian law;

• Publicly promote and advocate for Palestinian-led reconstruction frameworks – including the Phoenix Plan – as the legitimate basis for any future process;

• Publicly condemn the reprisals – including but not limited to US-initiated sanctions – against Palestinian human rights defenders and their allies, as per the World Bank’s commitment to zero tolerance for reprisals, and

• Cooperate with UN Special Procedures, as well as avoid participating in structures that undermine the UN multilateral system.

1. Academics and Staff for Palestine - Concordia University (Canada)

2. Accountability Counsel (Global)

3. Action Aid International (Global)

4. Addameer (Palestine)

5. African Law Foundation (Nigeria)

6. Agora Lab (Global)

7. AIDL Center for Peace and Security Policy (Global)

8. AIDL International Foundation (Global)

9. Al-Haq (Palestine)

10. Alliance Sud (Switzerland)

11. Alliance Internationale (Global)

12. Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights (Palestine)

13. Alternative Law Collective (Pakistan)

14. Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma| ALTSEAN-Burma (Southeast Asia)

15. Alyansa Tigil Mina (Philippines)

16. Asia Development Alliance (Asia)

17. Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (Asia)

18. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development | FORUM-ASIA (Asia)

19. Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development| APWLD (Asia-Pacific)

20. Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (Asia)

21. Asociación Coordinadora de la Mujer (Bolivia)

22. Association for Farmers’ Rights Defence (Georgia)

23. Association For Promotion Sustainable Development (India)

24. Association For Solidarity Through Humanitarian Imperative Action International (Cameroon)

25. Bangkok Lefty Reading Group (Thailand)

26. BDS Thailand (Thailand)

27. BDS Malaysia (Malaysia)

28. Blind and Visually Impaired People of Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands)

29. Blood Money Campaign (Myanmar/Burma)

30. Bonyan Institute for Research and Policy Analysis (Palestine)

31. Bretton Woods Project (Britain)

32. Burma For Palestine (Myanmar/Burma)

33. Cambodia Palestine Solidarity (Cambodia)

34. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (Canada)

35. Canadian BDS Coalition and International BDS Allies (Canada/Global)

36. CEE Bankwatch Network (Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia)

37. Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (Uganda)

38. Centre for Counter Hegemonic Studies (Australia)

39. Centres of Distinction on Indigenous and Local Knowledge (Global)

40. Centre for Environment, Human Rights & Development Forum (Bangladesh)

41. Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development | CSEND (Switzerland)

42. Center for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance | CEWLA (Egypt)

43. Changemaker (Norway)

44. Chiang Mai for Palestine (Thailand)

45. Climate Action Network-Africa (Africa)

46. Climate Action Network - Canada (Canada)

47. Climate Change Network for Community-Based Initiatives (Philippines)

48. Climate Watch Thailand (Thailand)

49. Coalition des Volontaires pour la Paix et le Développement (Congo)

50. Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence | KontraS (Indonesia)

51. Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network | CEMSOJ (Nepal)

52. Coalition des Volontaires pour la Paix et le Développement CVPD-RDC (Congo)

53. Corner House (UK)

54. Counter Balance (European Union)

55. Crofter Foundation (Pakistan)

56. Debt for Climate (Global)

57. Debt Justice Norway (Norway)

58. Deep Sea Mining Campaign (Pacific)

59. DinDeng (Thailand)

60. Disability Peoples Forum Uganda (Uganda)

61. Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast (Canada)

62. Ecoseres Unidad (Colombia)

63. Emonyo Yefwe International (Kenya)

64. Egypt Initiative for Personal Rights | EIPR (Egypt)

65. Entrelles (Morocco)

66. Equal Asia Foundation (Asia)

67. FIAN International (Global)

68. Freedom from Debt Coalition - Philippines (Philippines)

69. Free Trade Union Development Centre (Sri Lanka)

70. Focus on the Global South (Asia)

71. Gender Action (Global)

72. GenDev Centre for Research and Innovation (India)

73. Gerakan Gabungan Anti-Imperialis (Malaysia)

74. Gestos - Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero (Brazil)

75. Global Energy Embargo for Palestine (Palestine / Global)

76. Global Social Justice (Global)

77. Global Surgery Umbrella | GSU (Americas, Africa, and Asia)

78. Green Advocates International (Liberia)

79. HRM Bir Duino (Kyrgyzstan)

80. IBON International (Global South)

81. Ilias Center for Global Challenges (Bangladesh)

82. Indigenous Peoples Forum, Odisha (India)

83. Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (Global)

84. Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group | INWOLAG (Nepal/Asia)

85. Indonesian Students for Justice in Palestine (Indonesia)

86. Inisiasi Masyarakat Adat (Indonesia)

87. INSPIRIT Creatives NGO (Germany)

88. Institute for Economic Justice (South Africa)

89. Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Loreto Generalate (Global)

90. International Accountability Project (Global)

91. International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (Indonesia)

92. International Rivers (Global)

93. Jalaur River for the Peoples Movement (Philippines)

94. Jamaa Resource Initiatives (Kenya)

95. Jubilee Australia Research Centre (Asia-Pacific)

96. Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste (Canada)

97. Kerio Valley Community Organization (Kenya)

98. Kenya Human Rights Comission (Kenya)

99. KRuHA - People's Coalition for the Right to Water (Indonesia)

100. Ligue des Sacrifices Volontaires pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme et de l'Environnement (Democratic Republic of Congo)

101. MADANI Berkelanjutan (Indonesia)

102. Manushya Foundation (Laos / Thailand / ASEAN)

103. Maquila Solidarity Network (Canada, Mexico and Central America)

104. MenaFem Movement (Morocco/SWANA)

105. Migrant Forum in Asia (Asia - incl. SWANA)

106. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (Malaysia)

107. MY World Mexico: Hub of Action for Sustainable Development in Mexico (Mexico)

108. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (Sri Lanka)

109. National Forum For Human Rights (Yemen)

110. New Trade Union Initiative (India)

111. NGO Forum on ADB (Asia Region)

112. North South Initiative (Malaysia)

113. Not1More (UK, Brazil, Guinea Bissau, Tanzania, Cambodia)

114. The Oakland Institute (USA)

115. Oceania Pride (Fiji/Pacific)

116. Oil Workers' Rights Protection Organization Public Union (Azerbaijan)

117. Oyu Tolgoi Watch (Mongolia)

118. Pakistan Development Alliance (Pakistan)

119. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (Pakistan)

120. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (Palestine)

121. Palestinian Institute for Climate Strategy (Global)

122. People of Chiang Mai for Palestine (Thailand)

123. Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (Asia Pacific)

124. Policies for Equitable Access to Health | PEAH (Italy)

125. Progressive Muslim Youth Association | PMYA (Myanmar/Burma)

126. Puanifesto (Indonesia)

127. Quest For Growth and Development Foundation (Nigeria)

128. Reality of Aid - Asia Pacific (Asia Pacific)

129. RIPESS - Intercontinental Network for the Promotions of Social Solidarity Economy (Spain)

130. Rivers & Rights (South East Asia Region)

131. Rivers without Boundaries (Mongolia)

132. Rural Area Development Programme (Nepal)

133. SAVE Rivers (Malaysia)

134. SEDRAc - Servicioextension Desarrollo Rural Agricultura, Genero (Chile)

135. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation (Myanmar/Burma)

136. Social and Economic Policies Monitor - Al Marsad (Palestine)

137. Socialgaze (Thailand)

138. Solidaritas Perempuan (Indonesia)

139. Solidarity Collective - TH (Thailand)

140. Society for International Development (Global)

141. South Africa Palestine Movement (South Africa)

142. Southern Riders Association (Thailand)

143. Stop the War Coalition - Philippines (Philippines)

144. Sustainable Strategic Solutions (Mexico)

145. Third World Network (Global)

146. TRIPPINZ CARE Inc. (USA)

147. Trend Asia (Indonesia)

148. Urgewald (Germany)

149. Uzbek Forum For Human Rights (Uzbekistan)

150. Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (India)

151. Wemos (Netherlands)

152. Women Development Program (Bangladesh)

153. World BEYOND War (Global)

154. World Economy, Ecology & Development - WEED e.V. (Germany)

155. World's Youth for Climate Justice (Global)

156. Worldwide Lawyers Association | WOLAS (Turkiye)

157. Yayasan Indonesia Cerah | CERAH (Indonesia)