Overview
- President Trump will chair the Board of Peace, with founding executive members including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, World Bank president Ajay Banga, financier Marc Rowan and U.S. deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
- Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov was appointed High Representative for Gaza, and Major General Jasper Jeffers was named commander of an International Stabilization Force authorized by a UN Security Council resolution.
- A 15-member technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, expected to be led by Ali Shaath, will handle day-to-day governance under the board’s oversight.
- Trump has invited additional leaders to join the effort, with Turkey saying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was asked to be a founding member, Argentina’s President Javier Milei signaling he would participate, Canada indicating intent to accept, and Egypt saying the request is under study.
- Key hurdles persist as Hamas has not publicly agreed to disarm, Israel has not committed to a full withdrawal, aid flows remain below targets, and rights groups question the board’s legitimacy including Blair’s role.