Trump’s ‘Gaza Board of Peace’ Revealed: Blair and Kushner In, Palestinian Leaders Out?

2. Brainx Perspective (Intro)

At Brainx, we believe the exclusion of Palestinian political voices from the senior levels of the new “Board of Peace” risks undermining its legitimacy before it even begins. This top-down structure—heavy on US insiders and controversial figures like Tony Blair—highlights a stark disconnect between Washington’s “Riviera” ambitions and the grim, rubble-strewn reality facing Gazans today.

3. The News (Body)

The White House has officially unveiled the architecture of its post-war governance plan for Gaza, a complex multi-layered system that critics are already labeling a “colonial solution.” As the conflict enters a fragile stabilization phase in early 2026, President Donald Trump has appointed a cadre of close allies and international figures to steer the enclave’s future, while relegating Palestinians to a strictly technocratic role.

The Three-Tiered Power Structure The governance model is divided into three distinct layers, with authority flowing downwards from Washington:

• The “Board of Peace” (Supreme Body):
  • Chaired personally by President Donald Trump.
  • Includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, architect of the Abraham Accords.
  • Features Steve Witkoff (US Special Envoy) and Ajay Banga (World Bank President).
  • Most controversially, it includes former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, whose involvement has sparked outrage due to his role in the Iraq War and perceived bias during his time as Middle East Envoy.
• The Gaza Executive Board (GEB):
  • Responsible for overseeing daily operations and investment.
  • Headed by Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN envoy who has been named “High Representative for Gaza.”
  • Includes diplomats from Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE, marking a rare moment of regional consensus.
  • Yakir Gabay, a Cyprus-based Israeli businessman, sits as the sole Israeli representative.
• The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG):
  • The only body composed of Palestinians.
  • Led by Dr. Ali Shaath, a civil engineer and former PA deputy minister.
  • This group is tasked with the “dirty work” of clearing rubble and restoring services but holds no political power. They are described as “apolitical technocrats,” a designation intended to bypass Hamas but which critics argue strips the local population of true agency.

The Security Puzzle: Enter General Jeffers While the boards handle politics and money, security falls to the newly announced International Stabilization Force (ISF).

• Commander: The White House has tapped Major General Jasper Jeffers, a seasoned US special operations commander, to lead this multinational force.
• Mandate: Backed by a UN resolution, the ISF is tasked with the “demilitarization” of Gaza—a goal Israel demands as a precondition for withdrawal.
• The Catch-22: Hamas has refused to disarm without a guarantee of statehood, while Israel refuses to leave until Hamas disarms. General Jeffers faces the Herculean task of resolving this standoff without triggering a new war.

A “Riviera” or a Ruin? President Trump has previously floated the idea of turning Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” but the ground reality is catastrophic.

• 60+ Million Tonnes of Rubble: Dr. Shaath has proposed pushing debris into the Mediterranean to reclaim land, a desperate measure for a territory where 80% of buildings are damaged or destroyed.
• Winter Crisis: Families are currently facing freezing temperatures with little shelter, while aid groups accuse Israel of maintaining suffocating restrictions on relief supplies—claims Israel denies, blaming UN inefficiency.

4. “Why It Matters” (Conclusion)

For the common man in Gaza, these high-level appointments mean little without immediate food, warmth, and safety. The success of this initiative will determine if the region moves toward a sustainable two-state solution or remains trapped in a cycle of violence, dependent on foreign administration for its basic survival.