Donald Trump has appointed former British prime minister Tony Blair, US secretary of state Marco Rubio, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to a newly created Gaza “board of peace”, the White House announced. The seven-member body, chaired by Trump himself, is intended to oversee reconstruction and governance in the war-ravaged territory.
Other members include Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and World Bank president Ajay Banga. The board will oversee portfolios such as governance, regional relations, reconstruction and investment. Further appointments are expected in the coming weeks.
Blair’s inclusion is likely to prove contentious given his role in the 2003 Iraq war and his tenure as Quartet special representative, which ended in 2015 after he was perceived as too close to Israel. Trump acknowledged last October that Blair is a divisive figure but said he wanted to find out if he was acceptable.
The board’s creation follows the establishment of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee to manage day-to-day affairs in post-war Gaza, headed by Ali Sha’ath. Trump also appointed former US special forces head Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead an International Stabilisation Force for security.
The US-backed peace plan, launched in October, brought a ceasefire and hostage releases. However, critics note that phase one implementation remains incomplete, with aid shortages and sporadic violence persisting. Democratic congresswoman Rosa DeLauro stressed that the war must end before peace can be built.
