The Trump administration has formed a 'Board of Peace' comprising US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair as key founding members. This announcement was made on Friday by Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who will also serve on the board.
President Trump will act as the chairman of this newly established board, which is part of his 20-point plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The board is expected to temporarily oversee the administration and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
Other notable members of the board include Marc Rowan, a private equity firm leader, World Bank chief Ajay Banga, and US national security advisor Robert Gabriel, each tasked with crucial portfolios necessary for Gaza's stabilization. Trump remarked on Thursday that this board is the "Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place."
This initiative follows the establishment of a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which will focus on the day-to-day governance of post-war Gaza, headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority.
The board's on-ground representative in Gaza will be Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN Middle East envoy, who will collaborate with the NCAG. Additionally, Trump's plan includes deploying an International Stabilisation Force to assist in training Palestinian police forces as part of efforts to secure the area.
While Trump's Gaza peace plan has entered a second phase, there remain uncertainties regarding Gaza's future and the welfare of its 2.1 million residents. The ceaseless violence has resulted in significant casualties, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
The White House has indicated that further appointments to the 'Board of Peace' will be revealed in the forthcoming weeks, amidst ongoing scrutiny and critical concerns regarding the humanitarian crisis in the region.
