President Donald Trump announced on January 15, 2026, the formation of his Gaza Board of Peace, naming former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner among the founding executive members. Trump declared on Truth Social that it was his great honor to announce the board had been formed, calling it the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled at any time, any place.
The White House confirmed that the executive board will include seven key members tasked with overseeing Trump's 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict. Alongside Blair, Rubio, and Kushner, the board features US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and US deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
The Board of Peace is an international transitional body mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted in November 2025, to support the administration, reconstruction, and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip following the devastating war. Board members will oversee portfolios critical to Gaza's stabilization, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, and large-scale capital mobilization.
Former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed as High Representative for Gaza, serving as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the transitional governance body. Major General Jasper Jeffers will command the International Stabilization Force, leading security operations and supporting comprehensive demilitarization efforts. The Palestinian technocratic committee will be led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister who will oversee the restoration of public services and rebuilding of civil institutions.
The announcement has drawn criticism from human rights experts and advocates who argue that Trump chairing a board to supervise a foreign territory's governance resembles a colonial structure. Blair's involvement has also been controversial due to his role in the Iraq war. Despite the criticism, the White House emphasized that the board represents a comprehensive approach to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.