Senior far-right figures within Israel's governing coalition have publicly rejected a US-backed blueprint for postwar governance in Gaza, sharply criticising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanding the annexation and settlement of the Palestinian territory.
Coalition Rift Over US "Board of Peace"
The political crisis was triggered by the White House's announcement of a new "Gaza executive board," intended to operate under a broader "board of peace" chaired by US President Donald Trump. This forms part of a 20-point plan to end the war initiated after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.
The advisory executive board includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, a move that provoked immediate fury from Israel's nationalist right. Both Turkey and Qatar have been vocal critics of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler in the occupied West Bank, led the attack. On social media platform X, he described Netanyahu's "unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza" as "the original sin." He argued the Prime Minister should instead establish a military government, encourage Jewish immigration, and build new settlements to ensure long-term Israeli security.
"The countries that inspired Hamas cannot be the ones that replace it," Smotrich stated, presumably referring to Qatar and Turkey. "Those who support it and continue to host it even now will not be granted a foothold in Gaza. Period."
Netanyahu's Delicate Balancing Act
Facing a rebellion from allies crucial to his coalition's survival, Netanyahu convened a meeting on Sunday to calm tensions. The far-right factions never supported the US-brokered ceasefire struck in October 2023 and their continued participation is existential for the government.
Netanyahu had already voiced objections on Saturday, before his ministers' comments, stating some appointments to the board were "not coordinated with Israel and were contrary to its policy." He instructed Israel's foreign minister to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel has consistently opposed any Turkish role in Gaza's future, with relations deteriorating sharply since the war began.
Smotrich insisted Netanyahu must stand firm, "even if it requires managing a dispute with our great friend and President Trump's emissaries."
Trump's Plan and Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
The White House plan envisions three bodies: the Trump-chaired board of peace, a Palestinian committee of technocrats to govern Gaza, and the advisory executive board. The technocratic committee held its first meeting in Cairo on Saturday.
A draft charter, seen by Reuters, reveals member states are asked to contribute $1 billion in cash to secure membership lasting more than three years. Other invited members of the overarching board include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Argentine President Javier Milei.
These diplomatic manoeuvres occur as the US says the Gaza truce plan has entered a second phase, shifting from ceasefire to disarmament of Hamas and establishing transitional governance. This ambitious escalation unfolds against a backdrop of persistent violence and a dire humanitarian situation.
Life in Gaza remains perilous. While large-scale fighting has slowed, airstrikes and gunfire have not ceased. Meanwhile, severe winter storms have compounded the catastrophe, causing deaths and flooding in overcrowded displacement camps. Strong winds recently collapsed walls onto flimsy tents, killing at least four displaced Palestinians. On Saturday, a 27-day-old baby died from severe cold, bringing the number of child hypothermia deaths this winter to eight, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Since the October ceasefire took effect, at least 451 Palestinians have been reported killed, underscoring the fragile and deadly reality facing Gaza's population as political leaders debate its future.
