The White House announced a Gaza governance board including Marco Rubio, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, chaired by Trump under his October plan.
WASHINGTON: The White House has announced initial members for a “Board of Peace” to supervise Gaza’s temporary governance under a plan unveiled by President Donald Trump in October.
Trump will serve as the board’s chair, according to the October framework.
The announced members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
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Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas both signed off on Trump’s plan, which proposes a Palestinian technocratic body overseen by this international board.
Many rights experts and advocates have criticised the structure, saying Trump overseeing a board to govern a foreign territory resembles a colonial framework.
Blair’s involvement has also drawn criticism due to his role in the Iraq war and the history of British imperialism in the Middle East.
The White House did not detail each member’s responsibilities on the “founding Executive board.”
The initial list does not include any Palestinian members.
The White House stated that more members will be announced in the coming weeks.
Additional board members include private equity billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump adviser Robert Gabriel.
Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov will serve as the high representative for Gaza.
US Army Major General Jasper Jeffers was appointed commander of the International Stabilization Force for Gaza.
A UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November authorised the board and cooperating countries to establish that force.
The White House also named an 11-member “Gaza Executive Board” to support Mladenov’s office and the Palestinian technocratic body.
That board includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UN Middle East peace coordinator Sigrid Kaag, UAE minister Reem Al-Hashimy, and Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay.
Gaza has been under a fragile ceasefire since October.
Israel and Hamas have accused each other of multiple violations during the truce.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza since October 2023 has killed tens of thousands and caused a severe humanitarian crisis.
Multiple rights experts, scholars, and a UN inquiry say the Israeli campaign amounts to genocide.
Israel says it acted in self-defence after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in a late 2023 attack. – Reuters
