{"id":9089,"date":"2026-01-18T17:56:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=9089"},"modified":"2026-01-18T17:56:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:56:50","slug":"who-is-part-of-trumps-board-of-peace-for-gaza-gaza-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=9089","title":{"rendered":"Who is part of Trump\u2019s \u2018Board of Peace\u2019 for Gaza? | Gaza News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>US President Donald Trump has officially outlined the architecture of the \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d, which is expected to \u201cfulfill\u201d Trump\u2019s 20-point plan for Gaza, days after US envoy Steve Witkoff launched \u201cphase two\u201d of the United States-brokered plan to end Israel\u2019s genocidal war on Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefings-statements\/2026\/01\/statement-on-president-trumps-comprehensive-plan-to-end-the-gaza-conflict\/?utm_source=wh_social_share_button\">statement<\/a> published by the White House on Saturday details a three-tiered power structure \u2013 with a US-led \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d comprised of billionaires and figures close to Israel at the top.<\/p>\n<p>Bulgarian diplomat <a href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/7l2lt1\">Nickolay Mladenov<\/a>, who has been named the \u201cHigh Representative for the Board of Peace\u201d, will oversee the transition from Hamas rule to a Palestinian administration of technocrats led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority (PA) deputy minister.<\/p>\n<p>The White House also announced the formation of a \u201cGaza Executive Board\u201d, which will work with the Office of the High Representative and the Palestinian technocratic administration named the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).<\/p>\n<p>While Washington frames this as a roadmap for \u201creconstruction and prosperity\u201d, the exclusion of Palestinians from the top decision-making body suggests they will have little say in deciding the future governance structure.<\/p>\n<p>Here is how the new three-tier governing structure works, and why experts warn it resembles a \u201ccommercial trusteeship.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-board-of-peace\">\u2018The Board of Peace\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>According to the White House statement, the \u201cFounding Executive Council\u201d sits at the apex of the pyramid. This body holds the purse strings and sets the strategic vision. It is chaired by President Trump, who retains veto power.<\/p>\n<p>The lineup of Executive Board members is:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"spaced-bullet-spacing\">\n<li><strong>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio:<\/strong> Rubio is one of the most pro-Israel officials in the Trump administration. He has said that those who criticise Israel will not be granted US visas. He has also criticised the move by several Western countries to recognise Palestinian statehood as a \u201creckless decision\u201d that \u201conly serves Hamas propaganda\u201d.<\/li>\n<li><strong>US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff:<\/strong> Witkoff is a New York-based real estate developer and investor close to Trump. He was tasked with ceasefire talks in Gaza. Witkoff was accused of reneging on Gaza talks after he accused Hamas of blocking a deal last July. Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim accused him of \u201cserving the Israeli position\u201d.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jared Kushner:<\/strong> Kushner, Trump\u2019s son-in-law. is also a staunch supporter of Israel who previously suggested that Palestinians are incapable of self-governance. He has described Gaza as having \u201cvery valuable waterfront property\u201d. Kushner was also the driving force of the so-called Abraham Accords, a series of deals that formalised ties between several Arab countries and Israel.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Billionaire businessman Marc Rowan:<\/strong> Rowan is a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, which is one of the world\u2019s largest investment firms. He has run philanthropic activities in Israel and has funded pro-Israel advocacy groups in the United States, according to media reports. He has also supported the Israeli-American Council, which works to strengthen Israeli and American Jewish communities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ajay Banga:<\/strong> Banga is currently the president of the World Bank. He was nominated to the post by President Trump. Banga has previously served as vice chairman at equity firm General Atlantic and chief executive at Mastercard.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Former British PM Tony Blair:<\/strong> Blair, who served as British prime minister from 1997 to 2007, supported the US-led so-called \u201cwar on terror\u201d in the early 2000s, and joined then-US President George W Bush\u2019s 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is seen as a polarising figure in the region.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Robert Gabriel Jr: <\/strong>Gabriel is deputy national security adviser in the Trump administration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Trump has invited the leaders of Egypt, Turkiye and Jordan to join his \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d to oversee the post-war transition in Gaza, according to authorities in Ankara, Cairo and Amman.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has also invited a number of world leaders, including Argentina\u2019s President Javier Milei and Canada\u2019s Prime Minister Mark Carney, to be part of a Board of Peace. Bloomberg News reported on Sunday that the Trump administration has asked countries to contribute at least $1bn to become permanent members. A non-permanent membership would remain free.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/7l2lt1\">Mladenov<\/a>, who championed the Abraham Accords as UN Middle East envoy in 2015-2020, will serve as the \u201con-the-ground link\u201d between the Board of Peace and the NCAG.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\">The White House appointed two \u201cstrategic advisers\u201d with controversial records to the Board of Peace:<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\"><strong>Aryeh Lightstone:<\/strong> A key figure in the Abraham Accords and the controversial aid organisation the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/aje.io\/prynms\">Gaza Humanitarian Foundation<\/a>\u201d (GHF), which faced severe accusations regarding aid mismanagement and coordination failures that led to the killing of hundreds of Palestinians seeking food.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\"><strong>Josh Gruenbaum:<\/strong> Associated with previous plans to turn Gaza into a \u201cMiddle East Riviera,\u201d prioritising real estate potential over refugee rights.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\">Iyad al-Qarra, a Gaza-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera that this top-heavy structure reflects a \u201ccorporate takeover\u201d of the Palestinian cause.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump treats Gaza not as a homeland, but as a bankrupt company in need of a new board of directors,\u201d al-Qarra said. \u201cHe has placed the strategic decision-making in the hands of investors and foreign politicians, turning sovereignty into a commercial venture.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-gaza-executive-board\">The \u2018Gaza Executive Board\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Below the founding council sits the \u201cGaza Executive Board,\u201d tasked with regional coordination.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Steve Witkoff<\/li>\n<li>Jared Kushner<\/li>\n<li>Turkiye\u2019s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan<\/li>\n<li>Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi<\/li>\n<li>Egyptian General Intelligence Director General Hassan Rashad<\/li>\n<li>Tony Blair<\/li>\n<li>Marc Rowan<\/li>\n<li>UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy<\/li>\n<li>Nickolay Mladenov<\/li>\n<li>Israeli-Cypriot real estate tycoon Yakir Gabay. whose presence on a board with Arab and Turkish diplomats raises questions about the normalisation of economic ties under the guise of reconstruction<\/li>\n<li>Sigrid Kaag, a Dutch politician and United Nations coordinator in Gaza<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Executive Board, which has representation from Arab countries, has been tasked with helping to \u201csupport effective governance\u201d in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Board will help support effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza,\u201d the White House said in a statement.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-israeli-criticism\">The Israeli criticism<\/h2>\n<p>Despite the US-led nature of the <a href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/cz38yq\">plan<\/a>, the inclusion of representatives from Turkiye and Qatar has faced opposition from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s office stated on Sunday that the formation of this executive committee \u201cwas not coordinated with Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>According to Israeli media, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a return to \u201cfull war\u201d and \u201cvoluntary migration\u201d rather than handing Gaza to a board involving Turkiye. Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror told Israeli radio that allowing \u201cTurkiye \u2013 led by a government sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood \u2013 into Gaza is a strategic error that would strengthen Hamas\u201d.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"24\">However, al-Qarra dismisses this \u201canger\u201d as largely theatrical. \u201cNetanyahu\u2019s objection is tactical,\u201d al-Qarra noted. \u201cUltimately, this board outsources the heavy lifting of managing Gaza\u2019s misery to international donors, while Israel retains security control without paying the price.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-national-committee-for-the-administration-of-gaza\">The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"26\">At the bottom of the hierarchy lies the only Palestinian component: NCAG<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"27\">In an interview with Egyptian Media, Committee Chairman Ali Shaath confirmed the official lineup. The 12-member team is comprised entirely of professionals tasked with managing specific service sectors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,0,0\"><strong>Economy &amp; Trade:<\/strong> Engineer Aed Abu Ramadan<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\"><strong>Agriculture:<\/strong> Abdel Karim Ashour<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,2,0\"><strong>Health:<\/strong> Dr Aed Yaghi<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,3,0\"><strong>Housing &amp; Lands:<\/strong> Engineer Osama al-Saadawi<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,4,0\"><strong>Justice:<\/strong> Adnan Abu Warda<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,5,0\"><strong>Interior &amp; Internal Security:<\/strong> Major General Sami Nasman<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,6,0\"><strong>Municipalities &amp; Water:<\/strong> Ali Barhoum<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,7,0\"><strong>Finance:<\/strong> Bashir Al-Rayyes<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,8,0\"><strong>Social Affairs:<\/strong> Hana Tarazi<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,9,0\"><strong>Education:<\/strong> Jabr Al-Daour<\/li>\n<li data-path-to-node=\"28,10,0\"><strong>Telecommunications:<\/strong> Engineer Omar Al-Shamali<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29\">The appointment of Major General Sami Nasman to the interior sector places a veteran figure in charge of internal policing. However, questions remain about his authority given the parallel presence of US-led forces.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"33\">Critics argue that relegating Palestinians to this tier strips them of political agency. Wissam Afifa, a writer and analyst in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that this structure confirms the fears of a \u201cnew mandate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\">\u201cThe Palestinians have been reduced to municipal employees,\u201d Afifa said. \u201cThey are tasked with cleaning up the sewage and rebuilding schools, but they have zero say in the political future of their land. It is a sovereignty-minus model where the \u2018National Committee\u2019 takes orders from the \u2018High Representative,\u2019 who takes orders from the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\">However, Afifa added that people who have witnessed a genocide are desperate for things to change. \u201cSpeaking not as an analyst but as a citizen living through the catastrophe, people see this committee as a potential lifeline,\u201d Afifa said. \u201cThere are high hopes that it might finally restore some semblance of life to a zone Israel has made uninhabitable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"37\">Afifa emphasised that while the technocratic administration members are \u201chighly professional\u201d, the real challenge lies elsewhere. \u201cThis is not a test for the committee \u2013 it is a test for Trump,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"37\">He questioned whether the new administration will bring in \u201ca \u2018Marshall Plan\u2019 level of support\u201d and whether it will \u201cfail to restrain Israeli arrogance\u201d.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"37\">\u201cThe fear,\u201d Afifa said, \u201cis that we will face humanitarian blackmail, where aid is conditioned on security concessions.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"international-stabilisation-force\" data-path-to-node=\"31\">International Stabilisation Force<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"39\">Operating alongside these tiers is the military pillar, led by US General Jasper Jeffers as commander of the \u201cInternational Stabilisation Force\u201d. His mandate includes \u201cpermanent disarmament\u201d.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"40\">Afifa warns that this clause shifts the premise from relief to an Israeli security priority, potentially setting the stage for conflict.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"40\">\u201cThe core issue is that this force is tasked with enforcing an Israeli agenda \u2013 disarmament \u2013 without a political settlement,\u201d Afifa warned. \u201cMost countries are hesitating because they refuse to act as security contractors for Israel. This isn\u2019t a recipe for stability; it\u2019s a recipe for an internationalised civil war.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-bottom-line\">The bottom line<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"46\">The \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d creates a clear hierarchy: The US and business moguls decide, the region pays and coordinates, and the Palestinians implement service delivery.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"47\">\u201cThis is the ultimate marginalisation,\u201d Afifa concluded. \u201cBy separating the \u2018service\u2019 file from the \u2018political\u2019 file, the plan attempts to bury the Palestinian national project.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"48\">Al-Qarra added that the structure treats the symptoms while ignoring the disease.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"48\">\u201cThe true test will be on the ground,\u201d al-Qarra told Al Jazeera. \u201cThe people of Gaza want national, Palestinian governance, not American trusteeship. Anybody who fails to address the occupation is simply managing the crisis, not solving it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US President Donald Trump has officially outlined the architecture of the \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d, which is expected to \u201cfulfill\u201d Trump\u2019s 20-point plan for Gaza, days after US envoy Steve Witkoff launched \u201cphase two\u201d of the United States-brokered plan to end Israel\u2019s genocidal war on Gaza. A statement published by the White House on Saturday details [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-canada-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}