WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday announced the members of a “Board of Peace” that will oversee the temporary governance of Gaza, as violence continues despite a ceasefire that began in October, according to a plan put forth by President Donald Trump.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza Governance
The board will include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, the White House said. Trump will chair the board, as outlined in his plan revealed late last year.
Israel and Hamas signed off on Trump’s plan in October, which calls for a Palestinian technocratic body to be overseen by the international “Board of Peace” during a transitional period in Gaza’s governance.
Additional members of the board include private equity executive and billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel, a Trump adviser. Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN Middle East envoy, will serve as high representative for Gaza, the White House stated.
The White House did not detail the specific responsibilities of each board member.
Critics have argued that Trump overseeing a board to govern a foreign territory resembles a colonial structure. Blair’s involvement has also drawn criticism due to his role in the Iraq War.
Major General Jasper Jeffers, a former U.S. special operations commander, has been appointed commander of the International Stabilization Force. A UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November authorized the “Board of Peace” and cooperating countries to establish this force in Gaza.
Since the start of the ceasefire in October, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violations. Over 440 Palestinians, including more than 100 children, and three Israeli soldiers have been reported killed in Gaza during this period.
Israel’s assault on Gaza since late 2023 has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, a hunger crisis, and the internal displacement of Gaza’s entire population. Multiple rights experts, scholars, and a UN inquiry have described the situation as potentially constituting genocide. Israel maintains it took action in self-defense following Hamas-led militants’ attack on October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of over 250 hostages.
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