Trump Names Himself, Blair, Rubio and Kushner to Gaza Board of Peace

The White House on Friday announced the initial lineup of members for the newly formed Gaza Board of Peace, naming President Donald Trump as chairman alongside former UK prime minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Also included are US special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, investor Marc Rowan, and US National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. According to the White House, the group brings together “leaders with experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy”.

The board is part of the administration’s effort to implement Trump’s 20-point roadmap for Gaza and will oversee the enclave’s reconstruction following two years of war between Hamas and Israel.

In parallel, Dr Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, was named head of the Palestinian technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The committee will be responsible for restoring essential services, rebuilding public institutions, and laying the groundwork for long-term governance. The White House described Dr Shaath as “widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities”.

Dr Shaath is currently believed to be in Cairo, holding meetings with members of the technocratic committee and representatives from mediating countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

The administration also announced the appointment of UAE-based Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov as High Representative for Gaza. He will be supported by Aryeh Lightstone, chief executive of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, and White House Gaza adviser Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers.

“Each executive board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation,” the White House said.

A separate executive board has also been formed to support both the Office of the High Representative and the NCAG. This body will include Mr Witkoff, Mr Kushner, Mr Blair, Mr Rowan, and Mr Mladenov, as well as UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation Reem Al Hashimy, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Gen Hassan Rashad, and UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag.

Additional members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Trump has previously said that “kings, presidents and prime ministers” are eager to join the board.

Separately, Maj Gen Jasper Jeffers of US Central Command was appointed head of the International Stabilisation Force. The unit will be tasked with overseeing security operations, supporting demilitarisation efforts, and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.

"The United States remains fully committed to supporting this transitional framework, working in close partnership with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan," the White House said. "The President calls on all parties to co-operate fully with the NCAG, the Board of Peace, and the International Stabilisation Force to ensure the swift and successful implementation of the Comprehensive Plan."

The announcement follows the launch of the second phase of the Gaza peace plan earlier this week, despite some benchmarks from the first phase remaining unmet. The new stage establishes a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration and begins full-scale reconstruction and demilitarisation efforts.

A ceasefire reached in October brought an end to two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The war began after Hamas and allied groups launched an attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of around 240 others. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza that devastated much of the territory and resulted in at least 71,000 deaths. The United Nations and several countries have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.

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