Washington (Web Desk): US President Donald Trump has begun shaping a new initiative called the “Board of Peace” aimed at rebuilding Gaza after years of devastation, inviting leaders from Egypt, Turkiye, Argentina, and Canada to participate.
The announcement comes as Trump seeks to advance his controversial vision for economic development in the Palestinian territory, which lies in ruins following more than two years of relentless Israeli bombardment.
Trump named himself chair of the board, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
The appointments were made public shortly after a Palestinian technocrats’ committee intended to govern Gaza held its first meeting in Cairo, attended by Kushner, who has been working closely with Witkoff on Gaza’s reconstruction plans.
In Canada, a senior aide to Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that the country intends to accept Trump’s invitation. In Turkiye, a spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the president had been asked to become a “founding member” of the board.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that Cairo was still reviewing the proposal, while Argentine President Javier Milei shared an image of his invitation on X, describing it as “an honor” to participate.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that around 60 heads of state had received the charter of Trump’s proposed board, including leaders from Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.
According to the document, the board’s role is to “restore dependable and lawful governance and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict,” effectively positioning it as an alternative to existing international organizations.
The charter also implicitly criticizes the United Nations, noting the need for a “more nimble and effective international peace-building body” and suggesting that lasting peace requires “the courage to depart from institutions that have too often failed.”
Blair, whose involvement in the Middle East remains controversial due to his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion, expressed gratitude for his appointment, calling it an honor to join the board’s executive team. After leaving office in 2007, Blair focused for years on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as part of the “Middle East Quartet,” representing the UN, European Union, US, and Russia.
The White House said the board will address governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment promotion, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization. Other members announced include World Bank President Ajay Banga, US financier Marc Rowan, and Robert Gabriel, a loyal Trump aide serving on the US National Security Council.
Trump has also formed a second “Gaza executive board” intended to provide advice, although which leaders will sit on which board has not been clarified. The administration said this plan has entered its second phase, moving from implementing the ceasefire to disarming Hamas.
US Major General Jasper Jeffers has been named head of the International Stabilisation Force, tasked with providing security in Gaza and training a new police force. Jeffers previously supervised a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which still experiences periodic strikes against Hezbollah militants.
Ali Shaath, a Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister, has been appointed to lead the governing committee. Trump, a real estate developer, has previously floated ideas about transforming Gaza into a Riviera-style resort destination, although he has stepped back from proposals to relocate the local population.