President Trump forms a “Board of Peace” for postwar Gaza, inviting global leaders, representatives from Egypt, Turkey, Canada and Argentina to oversee reconstruction, governance and investment initiatives in the Palestinian territory.
US President Donald Trump’s initiative to oversee postwar reconstruction in Gaza began taking shape Saturday, with several world leaders and senior figures named to a so-called “Board of Peace.” The move comes as Trump pushes his vision of economic development for the Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by more than two years of relentless Israeli bombardment.
Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to the panel. He has also declared himself chair of the body. The White House described the board’s mandate as addressing “governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding and capital mobilization.”
In addition to US-based officials, Trump has invited leaders from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada to join. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is reported to have accepted the invitation. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been asked to become a “founding member,” according to a spokesperson. Egypt is reviewing the request for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, while Argentine President Javier Milei shared the invitation on social media, calling participation “an honor.”
Blair, a controversial figure in the Middle East for his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion, said in a statement he was “honoured to be appointed to the Executive Board” and thanked Trump for his leadership. Trump had previously said he wanted to ensure Blair was “an acceptable choice to everybody,” highlighting the former UK leader’s long-standing involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian issue, including his work with the Middle East Quartet after leaving Downing Street in 2007.
The White House also named World Bank President Ajay Banga, billionaire US financier Marc Rowan, and Robert Gabriel, a Trump aide on the US National Security Council, as members of the board. In addition, Trump has created a second “Gaza executive board” that is expected to have a more advisory role, though it remains unclear which international leaders have been asked to participate in this body.
The announcement came as a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern Gaza held its first meeting in Cairo, attended by Kushner, who has partnered with Witkoff on the initiative for several months.
The White House said additional members for both entities will be named, though it did not immediately provide further details when contacted for comment.
Trump’s boards represent a controversial effort to shape the reconstruction and governance of Gaza, blending American leadership with selected international figures, while raising questions about the role of world powers and regional actors in the territory’s postwar recovery.
Israel strikes
Washington has said the Gaza plan had gone on to a second phase – from implementing the ceasefire to disarming Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel prompted the massive Israeli offensive.
On Friday, Trump named US Major General Jasper Jeffers to head the International Stabilization Force, which will be tasked with providing security in Gaza and training a new police force to succeed Hamas.
Jeffers, from special operations in US Central Command, in late 2024 was put in charge of monitoring a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which has continued periodic strikes aimed at Hezbollah militants.
Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath was earlier tapped to head the governing committee.
Trump, a real estate developer, has previously mused about turning devastated Gaza into a Riviera-style area of resorts, although he has backed away from calls to forcibly displace the population.
With inputs from agencies
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