Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has said he is "honoured" to accept a role on Donald Trump's newly formed Gaza Board of Peace, a move that has already sparked controversy given the region's history with the Iraq war.
The Founding Executive Board Takes Shape
The White House confirmed that Sir Tony will sit on the board's Founding Executive Board, which will be chaired by the US President himself. He will be joined by high-profile figures including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Mr Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Other members of this core group include Marc Rowan, the chief of private equity giant Apollo, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel, an assistant to Mr Trump on policy matters. The White House stated that each board member will oversee a specific portfolio critical to Gaza's future, spanning governance, regional relations, reconstruction, and large-scale funding.
Potential Expansion and UK Involvement
Officials indicated that additional members will be announced in the coming weeks. This has led to speculation that Prime Minister Keir Starmer could also be offered a place, after British officials confirmed earlier this week that the idea had been floated by members of the US administration.
The broader structure of the initiative includes a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to be led by Palestinian official Ali Shaath. There will also be a wider Gaza Executive Board featuring Sir Tony, Mr Witkoff, Mr Kushner, and representatives from Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
A Vision for Peace and a Wider Ambition
President Trump announced the board's formation on his Truth Social platform, boasting, "I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place." The body is a central part of his 20-point peace plan, first unveiled last September.
The plan's first phase aims to deradicalise Gaza, with the second focused on the territory's physical and economic redevelopment. However, reports suggest the board's remit could expand beyond the Middle East, potentially mediating in other global hotspots like Ukraine and Venezuela.
This prospect has reportedly caused concern among some Western and Arab diplomats. One source briefed on discussions told the Financial Times that the Trump administration views the Board of Peace as a potential parallel body to the UN for handling conflicts worldwide.
Sir Tony's confirmed role, while welcomed by the former premier, is likely to face further objections in a region still deeply affected by the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq war, which he championed while in office.
