Donald Trump has named U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to a newly formed Gaza “board of peace,” a group he says will guide the next stage of reconstruction and governance in the war-torn territory.
The White House announced that the seven-member “founding executive board” will also include Trump’s special envoy, property developer Steve Witkoff; World Bank President Ajay Banga; and the president’s son-in-law and longtime adviser Jared Kushner. Trump will serve as chair, with more appointments expected in the coming weeks.
A White House statement said, “Each executive board member will oversee a specific area crucial to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization.”
“The United States remains fully committed to supporting this transitional framework, working closely with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community.”
Blair’s inclusion is likely to be controversial in the region. The former Labour leader remains a divisive figure in the Middle East due to his role in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
After leaving office in 2007, he became the special representative of the Quartet—a group made up of the U.S., EU, Russia, and the UN seeking peace between Israel and the Palestinians. However, he came to be seen as too close to Israel and stepped down in 2015.
Acknowledging that Blair remains a divisive figure, Trump said last October, “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to make sure he’s an acceptable choice to everyone.”
The president also appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers to the board to manage “day-to-day strategy and operations.” Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN envoy to the Middle East, will serve as the High Representative for Gaza.
The list was released a day after Trump announced the formation of the “board of peace” as part of phase two of the U.S.-brokered plan to end the conflict in Gaza. In his typically enthusiastic style, the president described it as the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place.”
This follows the creation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with running day-to-day affairs in post-war Gaza. The committee will be led by Ali Sha’ath, a Gaza native and former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority.
The White House stated, “Dr. Sha’ath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities.”
Trump has also appointed the former head of U.S. special forces, Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, to lead an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), which will oversee security across the territory.
The U.S.-backed peace plan, launched on October 10, led to the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and a halt in fighting between Israel and the militant group. The second phase is now underway, though reports of aid shortages and sporadic violence continue to cloud the process.
Since the ceasefire, Israel has also demolished thousands of structures that survived the war, including homes and greenhouses, in the part of Gaza it still controls.
Hamas has yet to publicly commit to full disarmament—a key Israeli demand and one of the most contentious parts of the long-term settlement.
Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said on Friday, “The success of phase two of the ceasefire in Gaza depends on full implementation of phase one, which is…”Progress remains insufficient in several critical areas: the delivery of humanitarian aid, a halt to Israeli military strikes, and the return of the last deceased hostage held by Hamas, Ran Gvili… The war must end before peace can be built.
Seth Masket, a political scientist at the University of Denver, noted that the board’s credibility was weakened by Trump’s aggressive actions. “I hope he can find time to attend Board of Peace meetings between discussions about invading Venezuela, Iran, Greenland, Canada, and Minneapolis,” Masket remarked on social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the reported proposal for a peace board involving Trump Blair Kushner and Rubio for Gaza framed in a natural tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this Gaza peace board Im hearing about
Its a reported proposal allegedly discussed during a meeting at Donald Trumps MaraLago club to create a new advisory group The idea was to have figures like Tony Blair Jared Kushner and Marco Rubio oversee or guide plans for Gazas future after the current IsraelHamas war
2 Who are the people named in this proposal
Donald Trump The former US President who hosted the meeting
Tony Blair Former British Prime Minister and longtime Middle East peace envoy
Jared Kushner Trumps soninlaw and former senior advisor who led the creation of the Abraham Accords
Marco Rubio A current US Senator known for his foreign policy focus
3 Is this an official US government plan
No This was a private discussion involving a former president and private citizens It does not represent any current official US policy which is set by the Biden administration
4 What would this board actually do
Details are vague but the concept seemed to involve advising on postwar reconstruction governance and potentially acting as a liaison between Arab states Israel and Palestinian entities
Intermediate Advanced Questions
5 Why were these specific people chosen
Each brings a specific background
Blair Experience as a Middle East envoy and connections in the region
Kushner Architect of the Trump administrations IsraelArab normalization deals though his plan was criticized for sidelining Palestinians
Rubio A sitting senator with influence in Washington particularly among Republicans
6 What has been the reaction to this idea
Reactions have been mixed and largely skeptical Many Middle East experts and Palestinian officials view it with suspicion seeing it as a revival of Trumpera policies that favored Israeli positions Some see it as a theoretical shadow planning effort for a potential future Trump administration
7 What are the main criticisms of this proposed board
Critics argue
