US President Donald Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to a newly created Gaza 'board of peace', according to a White House statement. The seven-member executive board, chaired by Trump, will oversee the next phase of reconstruction and governance in the war-ravaged territory.
Other members include Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and further appointments are expected. Each board member will manage a portfolio covering governance, regional relations, reconstruction, investment, and capital mobilisation. The White House said the US remains committed to working with Israel, Arab nations, and the international community on this transitional framework.
Blair's inclusion is likely to be contentious given his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion and his tenure as Quartet envoy, where he was seen as too close to Israel. Trump acknowledged last October that Blair remains a divisive figure, stating he wanted to ensure Blair was 'an acceptable choice to everybody'.
The board also includes senior advisers Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum for day-to-day operations, and Nickolay Mladenov as High Representative for Gaza. The announcement follows the formation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee led by Ali Sha'ath to manage daily affairs in post-war Gaza.
Trump has also appointed Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead an International Stabilisation Force overseeing security. The US-backed peace plan, launched in October, has entered its second phase, though aid shortages, sporadic violence, and Hamas's failure to commit to disarmament remain challenges.
Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro stressed that phase two's success depends on full implementation of phase one, including humanitarian aid delivery and cessation of Israeli strikes. Political scientist Seth Masket questioned the board's name given Trump's bellicose foreign policy rhetoric.
