Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened a meeting with his top advisers to discuss Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza, after it was revealed that the US did not include Israel in talks regarding its creation.
Netanyahu's office stated that the initiative was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy following the announcement of the committee's Gaza Executive Board, which features members such as the Turkish foreign minister, a Qatari official, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Board of Peace is part of Trump's 20-point strategy to resolve the Israel-Hamas war, with plans to temporarily oversee Gaza's governance and reconstruction efforts. The exact structure and additional members of this board remain under discussion.
Two senior entities have been unveiled under the Board of Peace: a founding Executive Board focused on investment and diplomacy, and the Gaza Executive Board responsible for on-the-ground implementation via another administrative group, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
Currently, the sole Israeli member on the Gaza Executive Board is Yakir Gabay, a businessman based in Cyprus, with no Palestinians represented. Criticism of the board has emerged, including remarks from Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who stated that Gaza needs to be liberated from Hamas terrorists rather than overseen by an administrative committee.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called this development a diplomatic failure for Israel as officials from countries which have been critical of Israeli actions, such as Qatar and Turkey, sit on the board.
Overall, the Board of Peace is expected to include global leaders, with Trump as its chairman, though member invitations have generated cautious responses, save for confirmation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
International governments are assessing their roles, with reports suggesting that to join the board, countries should contribute $1 billion, although US officials clarified that countries could join without upfront payments for a three-year term.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, as the UN warns of ongoing crises, including massive displacement and lack of essential supplies amid winter conditions. Israel contends it is facilitating aid but blames the UN for inadequate distribution efforts.
