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The Trump administration has announced the formation of its “Board of Peace” for Gaza, naming US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair as members of its founding executive board.
According to a statement released by the White House on Friday, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, will also serve on the body.
The board, chaired by President Trump, is a key component of his 20-point plan aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Its anticipated role includes temporarily overseeing the administration of Gaza and managing its reconstruction efforts.
While the precise structure of the Board of Peace is still being defined, two distinct senior boards have been formally introduced.
The “founding Executive Board” will concentrate on investment and diplomatic initiatives at a high level. In contrast, the “Gaza Executive Board” will be tasked with supervising all on-the-ground activities of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), another administrative entity.
Other members of the founding executive board include Marc Rowan, head of a private equity firm, World Bank chief Ajay Banga, and US national security advisor Robert Gabriel.
The White House statement indicated that each member will have a portfolio “critical to Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term success.”
The Board of Peace itself will consist of heads of government, whose identities have yet to be formally disclosed.
On Thursday, President Trump announced the formation of the board, describing it as the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place.”
According to his office, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been invited by Trump to join the board and intends to accept the invitation.
Argentinian President Javier Milei shared a post on X showing an invitation to join the board, stating it would be “an honour” to participate.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister also confirmed that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been invited, adding that “we are studying the matter.”
Sir Tony Blair served as UK Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, leading the UK into the Iraq War in 2003. Following his premiership, he was the Middle East envoy for the Quartet of international powers (the US, EU, Russia, and the UN).
In that capacity, his focus was on fostering economic development in Palestine and creating the conditions conducive to a two-state solution.
Sir Tony has previously participated in high-level discussions regarding the future of Gaza with the US and other stakeholders. In August, he attended a White House meeting with Trump to discuss plans for the territory, which Witkoff characterized as “very comprehensive.”
In a statement, the former Prime Minister expressed his honor at the appointment and acknowledged the “real privilege” of working with Witkoff and Kushner thus far.
“I look forward to working with them and other colleagues in line with the president’s vision to promote peace and prosperity,” Sir Tony stated.
He is the only founding member of the executive board who is not a US citizen.
In September, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that involving Sir Tony in such talks, given his record on the Iraq War, would “raise some eyebrows”.
But Streeting also noted the former prime minister’s role in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to end Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
“If he can bring those considerable skills there, in both diplomacy and state craft,” Streeting told the BBC, “that can only be a good thing”.
This announcement follows the unveiling of a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), responsible for managing the day-to-day governance of post-war Gaza.
Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control, will lead this new committee.
The statement also noted that Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN Middle East envoy, will serve as the board’s representative on the ground in Gaza, collaborating with the NCAG.
Trump’s plan includes the deployment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to Gaza to train and support vetted Palestinian police forces. According to the White House statement, US Major General Jasper Jeffers will lead this force, aiming to “establish security, preserve peace, and establish a durable terror-free environment.”
The White House indicated that a separate “Gaza executive board” is being established to support governance, comprising some of the same individuals as the founding executive board, along with additional appointees.
The US peace plan went into effect in October and has since moved into its second phase, but uncertainty remains regarding the future of Gaza and its 2.1 million Palestinian residents.
Phase one involved a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in October, encompassing a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased aid delivery.
Earlier this week, Witkoff stated that phase two would entail the reconstruction and complete demilitarization of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
“The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations,” he cautioned, emphasizing the return of the body of the last deceased Israeli hostage. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”
However, the ceasefire remains fragile, with both sides alleging repeated violations.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, almost 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect. The Israeli military reports that three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.
The UN reports that humanitarian conditions in the territory remain dire, emphasizing the need for the unrestricted flow of essential supplies.
The conflict in Gaza was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages.
According to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 71,260 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that members of the executive boards were members of the Board of Peace itself.
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