Israel has objected to the White House's selection of world leaders for the so-called Gaza 'board of peace', which is intended to temporarily oversee governance and reconstruction in the strip. The Israeli government stated that some appointments were 'not coordinated with Israel and were contrary to its policy', without specifying which individuals it opposed.
The board, announced by Donald Trump as part of a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, includes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Argentine President Javier Milei. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the foreign minister to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the matter.
The board comprises two separate bodies: a 'founding executive board' focusing on investment and foreign relations, and a 'Gaza executive board' overseeing the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which handles day-to-day affairs. Rubio, US envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Tony Blair are on the founding board, with Trump as chair.
Blair praised the initiative as a 'massive step forward', offering hope for Gaza's future and Israeli security. However, it remains unclear whether all invitees have accepted, with Sisi and Erdoğan yet to confirm. The US ceasefire plan has moved to its second phase, addressing Hamas disarmament, reconstruction, and an international security force, though Hamas has not committed to disarm, and Israel has previously objected to Turkish involvement in such a force.
