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Trump assembles high-profile Gaza reconstruction board
The Trump administration has appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner to a new "Board of Peace" tasked with overseeing Gaza's temporary governance and rebuilding efforts.
Board composition and roles
President Donald Trump will chair the 20-member board, which forms the cornerstone of his 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war. Other founding members include Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, private equity executive Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and U.S. National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.
The White House stated each member will oversee a portfolio "critical to Gaza's stabilisation and long-term success." Additional appointments are expected in the coming weeks.
Blair's controversial inclusion
Tony Blair, UK prime minister from 1997 to 2007, brings a contentious legacy due to his role in the 2003 Iraq War. However, he later served as Middle East envoy for the Quartet-comprising the U.S., EU, Russia, and UN-focusing on Palestinian economic development and advancing a two-state solution.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged Blair's polarising history but highlighted his diplomatic success in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. "If he can apply those skills here, it can only help," Streeting told the BBC in September.
Governance and security framework
The board will collaborate with a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), led by former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath. Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy, will represent the board on the ground in Gaza.
Trump's plan also includes an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), commanded by U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, to train vetted Palestinian police and maintain security. The White House stated the ISF aims to "preserve peace and establish a durable terror-free environment."
Progress and challenges
The U.S. peace plan entered its second phase in October, following a ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchange, partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased aid deliveries. However, the ceasefire remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, nearly 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce began. The Israeli military reports three soldiers killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain severe, with the UN emphasising the need for unrestricted aid flows.
Witkoff warned this week that Hamas must fully comply with its obligations, including the return of the last deceased Israeli hostage's body, or face "serious consequences." Phase two of the plan focuses on Gaza's reconstruction and full demilitarisation, including the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups.
Background to the conflict
The war erupted on 7 October 2023 after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, over 71,260 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.
