Turkish President Erdoğan was also invited to sit at the board overnight on Saturday, according to his office. A body tasked with the day-to-day coordination with the Palestinians was also announced
The White House on Friday announced some members of a so-called “Board of Peace” that is to supervise and manage the temporary governance of Gaza, to oversee what it described as a plan to guide the enclave’s transition from war to reconstruction and development.
Among those named were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
A diplomatic source told Haaretz that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also invited to sit at the board overnight on Saturday, adding that the leaders of all three mediating countries – Egypt, Qatar and Turkey – were invited to take part. Another diplomatic source confirmed that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi was invited to join the board, as well as Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Sources say the leaders of Indonesia, Germany, Canada, the U.K. and Morocco were also offered a seat at the board.
The state of Israel
According to the statement, the board will “play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the president’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”
The Board of Peace is expected to be structured hierarchically. At its top, symbolic-diplomatic level, Trump himself would sit, alongside the leaders of the three mediating countries – Egypt, Turkey and Qatar – as well as the leaders of the U.K. and France. Haaretz has learned that Germany was also asked to join the board and is considering the request favorably.
At the second level would be the Board of Peace’s executive committee, under which the Gaza Executive Board would operate. The Gaza Executive Board officials would be responsible for day-to-day coordination with the Palestinian technocratic committee, which was announced on Wednesday by Witkoff.
Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov will serve as the Gaza Executive Board’s “high representative,” who would act as the “on-the-ground link” between the Palestinian committee and the executive board.
The White House also announced the appointment of Major General Jasper Jeffers, who also monitored the agreement between Israel and Lebanon signed in 2024, as commander of the International Stabilization Forces, saying he will “lead security operations, support comprehensive demilitarization, and enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.”
The stated aim of the multinational mission is the provision of internal and border security, alongside training a Palestinian police force and supporting demilitarization. It is expected to be subordinate to the Board of Peace and will work in coordination with Israel and Egypt.
The statement also named Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, reportedly one of the largest private investment firms worldwide; World Bank President Ajay Banga; and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel as members of the “Board of Peace.”
The White House added that Trump appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum to serve as the board’s senior advisors. Lightstone is the CEO of the Abraham Accord Peace Institute and a former advisor to U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, while Trump appointed Gruenbaum in February to head the Federal Acquisition Service.
According to the statement, the two are “charged with leading day-to-day strategy and operations, and translating the Board’s mandate and diplomatic priorities into disciplined execution.”
The White House also announced the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which is set to operate under the “Board of Peace.” This committee would include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Mladenov and Rowan, as well as Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay; Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari senior official Ali Al-Thawadi; Egypt’s head of intelligence, General Hassan Rashad; the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Sigrid Kaag; and Emirati Minister Reem Al-Hashimy.
Trump announced the board’s creation early Friday, writing on Truth Social, “It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed.”
The president also reiterated that the process has moved to the second phase of the agreement to end the war. “We have OFFICIALLY entered the next phase of Gaza’s 20-Point Peace Plan,” he said.
The announcement of the Board of Peace had been scheduled for Monday but was postponed. Sources familiar with the matter told Haaretz at the time that the delay was due to the White House’s desire to “tie up loose ends” on various issues related to the board.
As previously reported by Haaretz, the charter circulated to countries could include language that would allow the Board of Peace to expand its mandate to address other conflicts around the world, effectively replacing the United Nations – a prospect that has raised concerns and opposition among both Arab and Western countries.
https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-01-17/ty-article/.premium/white-house-says-rubio-witkoff-blair-to-join-trump-led-board-to-oversee-postwar-gaza/0000019b-c959-d810-a99f-dbfdb5650000
