The Trump administration has revealed the composition of a new governing body for Gaza, appointing prominent US and international figures to oversee reconstruction and administration in the territory following the conflict with Hamas.
The board will be chaired by President Donald Trump, who described the initiative as part of his broader 20-point strategy to bring lasting peace to the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair are among the founding members of the so-called “Board of Peace.” The White House confirmed that Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will also sit on the founding executive board, which is expected to manage Gaza’s immediate needs and reconstruction plans.
Other figures named to the board include private equity executive Marc Rowan, World Bank head Ajay Banga, and US national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
According to the White House, each member will handle areas considered “critical to Gaza's stabilisation and long-term success.” Trump praised the group’s formation, saying it is the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place,” and added that additional appointments will be announced soon.
Sir Tony, who led the UK from 1997 to 2007 and oversaw the country’s involvement in the Iraq War, has also previously served as Middle East envoy for the Quartet of international powers, comprising the US, European Union, Russia, and the United Nations.
His inclusion signals a focus on diplomatic experience alongside financial and security expertise on the board.
The announcement comes after the creation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a 15-member Palestinian technocratic body responsible for day-to-day governance in the territory. Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, will chair the committee, which will work closely with the Board of Peace.
Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN Middle East envoy, will represent the board on the ground in Gaza, liaising with the Palestinian committee to support governance and reconstruction.
Additionally, an International Stabilisation Force will be deployed to the territory to train and support vetted Palestinian police units, with US Major General Jasper Jeffers leading the mission to “establish security, preserve peace, and establish a durable terror-free environment.”
The White House also said a separate Gaza executive board is being formed to back governance, including some of the founding board members along with other appointees to be named later. Trump’s peace plan, which began in October, is now entering its second phase, yet the future of Gaza and its 2.1 million residents remains uncertain.
The first phase included a ceasefire, prisoner and hostage exchanges, partial Israeli troop withdrawals, and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Witkoff said that phase two will involve full demilitarisation, including disarming Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
“The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations,” he warned. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”
Despite the ceasefire, tensions continue, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports nearly 450 Palestinian deaths in Israeli strikes since the truce began, while Israel says three of its soldiers have died in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.
The United Nations continues to highlight the urgent need for the free flow of essential humanitarian supplies, describing conditions in Gaza as dire.
The current conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, over 71,260 people in Gaza have died in Israeli attacks, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
