U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced a high-profile team to manage Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and senior American officials, while assigning a U.S. general to lead a developing security force in the devastated territory.
The announcement, part of a broader plan Trump calls the “Board of Peace,” comes as Gaza struggles to recover after more than two years of relentless Israeli bombardment that left much of the region in ruins. The move signals Washington’s intention to play a direct role in governance, reconstruction, and security in Gaza, even as diplomatic and logistical challenges loom.
Trump named seven members to the board’s founding executive group, including Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, World Bank President Ajay Banga, financier Marc Rowan, and Robert Gabriel, a trusted aide on the National Security Council. The White House confirmed that Trump would serve as chairman of the board.
Blair’s appointment is particularly controversial given his past role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Since leaving Downing Street in 2007, Blair has focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a representative of the Middle East Quartet, which includes the United Nations, European Union, United States, and Russia. Trump has emphasized that Blair was selected as an “acceptable choice to everybody,” highlighting the former British leader’s experience in the region despite lingering criticism.
The Board of Peace is tasked with a wide range of responsibilities, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, and large-scale funding mobilization. Trump has previously floated the idea of transforming Gaza into a Riviera-style destination of resorts, though he has distanced himself from any proposals involving forced population displacement.
The announcement comes after a Palestinian technocrats’ committee, designed to govern Gaza, held its first meeting in Cairo. The gathering was attended by Kushner and Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, who will act as high representative liaising between the committee and the U.S.-led board. Ali Shaath, a Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister, has been tapped to head the local governing body. Committee members plan to reconvene in Cairo this weekend, with discussions reportedly focusing on immediate humanitarian and reconstruction priorities.
In addition to governance, the United States is taking a direct role in security operations. Trump appointed U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. Jeffers, a veteran of special operations in U.S. Central Command, previously oversaw ceasefire monitoring between Lebanon and Israel in late 2024. His new mission includes providing security across Gaza and training a new police force to replace Hamas, the militant group whose October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the devastating Israeli offensive.
The U.S. has been actively seeking contributions from international partners for the stabilization force, with Indonesia emerging as an early volunteer. However, diplomats note that many countries are hesitant to commit troops until Hamas agrees to fully disarm.
Israel’s military, meanwhile, reported renewed strikes on Gaza Friday, citing violations of the ceasefire established in October. These attacks underscore the ongoing volatility in the region, even as Washington moves forward with its reconstruction plans.
Trump also announced a second, advisory-level executive board that will include Blair, Witkoff, and Mladenov, alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Israel has opposed a Turkish role in Gaza’s security arrangements due to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s outspoken criticism of Israeli actions. Other members of this advisory board include senior officials from Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, the latter having normalized ties with Israel in 2020. UN humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag was also named to the board, despite Trump’s administration previously seeking to sideline the United Nations in Gaza-related matters.
The appointments signal Trump’s intention to combine high-level diplomacy, international finance, and U.S. military presence to stabilize Gaza, an approach that some analysts view as ambitious, if not contentious. Critics warn that the plan may face pushback from regional powers, local stakeholders, and international institutions wary of direct U.S. oversight.
While the political and security landscape remains complex, Trump’s administration emphasizes that rebuilding Gaza will require robust international coordination, capital investment, and a sustained peacekeeping presence. “We hope to go to Gaza next week or the week after; our work is there, and we need to be there,” a member of the Cairo-based Palestinian committee said on condition of anonymity.
Trump’s plan, combining economic development initiatives, governance oversight, and a U.S.-led security force, represents a bold attempt to reshape post-war Gaza. Yet the initiative will likely face immediate tests, including securing regional cooperation, addressing local humanitarian needs, and navigating ongoing hostilities in the strip.
As reconstruction efforts advance, all eyes will be on how the newly appointed board navigates Gaza’s political complexities, the demands of displaced populations, and the delicate balance of international interests in one of the most volatile regions of the Middle East.
