Executive summary: The White House has unveiled the initial members of its Gaza ‘Board of Peace,’ featuring high-profile names such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, but the panel confronts immense obstacles in fostering peace and overseeing reconstruction in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The announcement, made within the last 24 hours, details two senior boards: a founding Executive Board focused on investment and diplomacy, and a Gaza Executive Board responsible for on-the-ground operations. Both boards include key figures from Trump’s inner circle, with significant overlap, but notably exclude Palestinian representatives, raising immediate concerns about the plan’s legitimacy and inclusivity.
The founding Executive Board comprises seven members, six of whom are Americans, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside World Bank President Ajay Banga and Sir Tony Blair. Their appointments have sparked criticism from Palestinian officials and human rights advocates, who argue that the inclusion of figures like Blair, associated with the Iraq war and colonial history, undermines the board’s credibility and risks imposing a foreign-led solution.
Concurrently, the Gaza Executive Board includes international diplomats from Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, headed by former Bulgarian politician Nickolay Mladenov as High Representative for Gaza. This board also features Yakir Gabay, an Israeli businessman, as the sole Israeli member, highlighting efforts to incorporate regional stakeholders while balancing complex political dynamics.
The White House stated that the boards aim to ensure ‘effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services’ for Gaza’s people, with the overarching Board of Peace chaired by President Trump. Invitations have reportedly been extended to leaders such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, indicating broad international engagement, though details remain unclear.
However, the panel faces daunting practical challenges. According to UN estimates, approximately 80% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, leaving survivors grappling with harsh winter conditions, food shortages, and inadequate shelter. Aid groups report ongoing restrictions by Israel on humanitarian work, while Israel blames the UN for distribution failures and cites security concerns related to Hamas.
Reconstruction efforts are Herculean, involving the removal of an estimated 60 million tonnes of rubble contaminated with unexploded ordnance and human remains. Moreover, maintaining the fragile ceasefire is critical, as the White House also announced Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead an International Stabilization Force tasked with demilitarizing Gaza, yet without a clear roadmap for Hamas’s disarmament.
The core impasse persists: Hamas insists on disarmament only as part of a Palestinian state deal, while Israel demands disarmament before withdrawing its troops from over half of Gaza. This catch-22 presents the ultimate test for the peace panel, requiring diplomatic finesse and sustained commitment from all parties involved.
Despite these hurdles, the plan is currently the primary initiative for Gaza’s future, with many world leaders pledging support. The success of the Board of Peace will hinge on its ability to quickly deliver tangible improvements in daily life for Palestinians and advance concrete steps toward lasting peace, while addressing the deep-seated criticisms and logistical nightmares that lie ahead.
