Netanyahu to skip Trump’s “Board of Peace” signing in fear of getting arrested

• ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his attendance at the January 2026 Board of Peace inauguration in Davos after Switzerland confirmed it would honor an ICC arrest warrant against him for war crimes, according to Hebrew media. 
• ‘Israeli’ President Isaac Herzog attended the World Economic Forum to condemn the "illegitimate" ICC warrants as a "reward for terror.”

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Board of Peace scheduled for Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said Hebrew news outlet Haaretz.

This decision stems from Switzerland's stated obligation to comply with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu for war crimes committed during the assault on Gaza.

Switzerland said it is “obliged to cooperate”.

"As a party to the Rome Statute, Switzerland is obliged to cooperate with the International Criminal Court," the Federal Office of Justice told Haaretz.

"Switzerland would in principle be required to arrest accused persons if they were to enter Switzerland at this time, provided that a corresponding arrest warrant or an arrest request based on it had been issued by the ICC, and to initiate the surrender proceedings to the International Criminal Court."

The Board of Peace, initiated by US President Donald Trump as part of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war on Gaza, is designed to oversee governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction efforts, investment attraction, and large-scale funding in the region.

Permanent membership requires a $1 billion contribution from participating states, with Trump retaining leadership and control over the board's composition.

The initiative has attracted interest from over a dozen nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Argentina, alongside key figures such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The ICC arrest warrant, issued in November 2024, accuses Netanyahu of responsibility for war crimes including the use of starvation as a method of warfare and directing attacks against civilian populations, as well as crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

It covers the period from at least October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024, during ‘Israel's’ assault on Gaza.

Despite US rejection of the ICC's authority in this matter, the warrant has prompted Netanyahu to avoid travel through several European nations, opting for alternative routes in recent international travel.

‘Israeli’ President Isaac Herzog, attending the WEF in Davos, has called for the international community to lift the ICC measures against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, claiming they are illegitimate sanctions that “reward terrorism” and hinder participation in global forums.