Trump’s Gaza peace board brings together senior US officials and global figures to oversee post-war governance, reconstruction, and long-term stability.
Gaza peace efforts have taken a new turn after US President Donald Trump announced the formation of a high-level “Board of Peace” tasked with overseeing Gaza’s post-war transition. The White House said the new body forms part of Trump’s 20-point strategy aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas while stabilising the territory.
The founding executive board includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Tony Blair, alongside Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump will serve as chairman of the board, which is expected to temporarily oversee Gaza’s administration and manage its reconstruction.
According to the White House, each founding member has been assigned a portfolio considered essential to Gaza peace, stabilisation, and long-term development. Additional members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, expanding what Trump has described as an unprecedented international leadership team.
The executive board also includes financier Marc Rowan, World Bank president Ajay Banga, and US national security adviser Robert Gabriel. Reports from Canadian media suggest that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been invited to join and is expected to accept, though official confirmation is pending.
Tony Blair is the only non-US citizen among the founding members. He previously served as Middle East envoy for the Quartet and focused on economic development and conditions for a two-state solution. Blair has already been involved in discussions about Gaza’s future and attended a White House meeting with Trump in August to review what officials described as comprehensive plans for the territory.
In response to his appointment, Blair said he was honoured to support the president’s vision and praised his collaboration with Witkoff and Kushner. His role has drawn mixed reactions in the UK, with critics pointing to his involvement in the Iraq War, while supporters highlight his role in brokering the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Alongside the board, the US has announced the creation of a separate Palestinian technocratic body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. This committee will manage day-to-day governance in the post-war period and will be led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority.
The board’s on-the-ground representative in Gaza will be Nickolay Mladenov, who will coordinate with the Palestinian committee. Meanwhile, an International Stabilisation Force is set to deploy to Gaza to support security and train vetted Palestinian police units, under the command of US Major General Jasper Jeffers.
The Gaza peace plan entered its second phase after an October ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Phase one included a hostage-prisoner exchange, partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid. Phase two is expected to focus on reconstruction and the full demilitarisation of Gaza.
Despite these steps, the ceasefire remains fragile. Both sides have accused each other of violations, while humanitarian agencies warn that conditions in Gaza remain severe. The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering a war that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread destruction in the territory.
Adapted from BBC News
