In a significant diplomatic manoeuvre, former U.S. President Donald Trump has spearheaded the formation of an international "Board of Peace" tasked with overseeing the temporary governance and reconstruction of Gaza. The initiative, which has reportedly garnered assent from both Israel and Hamas, aims to establish a framework for stabilization, governance capacity-building, and economic revitalization in the war-torn territory. The White House formally announced the board's establishment on Friday, signalling a new phase in international efforts to address the complex humanitarian and political crisis.
President Trump himself is slated to chair this influential board, which is being positioned as a pivotal body for navigating Gaza's transitional period. Invitations have extended to a diverse array of nations and prominent international figures. Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, confirmed receiving an invitation for his nation to join as one of the "25 founding states" of the board, a move that underscores Cyprus's burgeoning role in regional diplomacy. Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been approached to be a "founding member," indicating an effort to engage key regional players in the proposed governance structure. Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and Javier Milei of Argentina have also publicly acknowledged their receipt of invitations.
The operational arm of this initiative will be an "Executive Board," initially comprising seven members: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, private equity executive Marc Rowan, and Trump advisor Robert Gabriel. This executive group is expected to manage specific portfolios crucial to Gaza's recovery. Furthermore, Nickolay Mladenov, a seasoned diplomat with prior experience as the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has been appointed as the "high representative for Gaza." Mladenov will serve as the critical liaison between the Board of Peace and a newly designated Palestinian national committee responsible for the territory's day-to-day administration. A complementary "Gaza Executive Board" is also being established, featuring figures such as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, incumbent UN Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag, UAE Minister for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy, and Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay, alongside some members of the founding executive board.
The deployment of an "International Stabilization Force," under the command of U.S. Army Major General Jasper Jeffers, is a key component of the plan, intended to bolster security and support the board's mandate. This comprehensive strategy is purportedly anchored by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted in mid-November, which authorized the board's creation and the stabilization force. The overarching objective is to facilitate a smooth transition, foster robust governance, encourage regional cooperation, drive reconstruction efforts, attract investment, and secure necessary funding for Gaza's long-term recovery.
The inclusion of countries like Greece and Cyprus in this initiative is widely interpreted as a strategic enhancement of their regional standing. However, the proposal has not been without its critics. Some human rights experts and advocates have voiced concerns, drawing parallels between Trump's oversight of a foreign territory's governance and historical colonial structures. The involvement of Tony Blair, in particular, has ignited controversy, given his past role in the controversial Iraq War and the historical context of British imperialism in the Middle East. As the initiative progresses, further announcements regarding board membership are anticipated in the coming weeks, underscoring the ambitious scope of this multifaceted international undertaking.