Key Takeaways:
- The US has outlined a three-tiered power structure for Gaza, with a US-led "Board of Peace" at the top, a "Gaza Executive Board" in the middle, and a Palestinian "National Committee for the Administration of Gaza" at the bottom.
- The Board of Peace is comprised of billionaires and figures close to Israel, with President Trump holding veto power.
- The Gaza Executive Board includes representatives from Arab countries, but its effectiveness is questioned due to the presence of Israeli-Cypriot real estate tycoon Yakir Gabay.
- The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is the only Palestinian component, tasked with managing service sectors, but critics argue it strips Palestinians of political agency.
- The plan has been met with criticism from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating that the formation of the executive committee was not coordinated with Israel.
- The plan has also been criticized by Palestinians, who argue that it treats Gaza as a "commercial venture" rather than a homeland, and that it ignores the underlying occupation.
Introduction to the Board of Peace
The US President Donald Trump has officially outlined the architecture of the "Board of Peace", which is expected to "fulfill" Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. The plan comes days after US envoy Steve Witkoff launched "phase two" of the United States-brokered plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza. The Board of Peace is a three-tiered power structure, with a US-led board at the top, a Gaza Executive Board in the middle, and a Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza at the bottom.
The Structure of the Board of Peace
The Board of Peace is comprised of billionaires and figures close to Israel, with President Trump holding veto power. The lineup of Executive Board members includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, billionaire businessman Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga, and former British PM Tony Blair. The Board of Peace is tasked with setting the strategic vision and holding the purse strings. Trump has also invited the leaders of Egypt, Turkiye, and Jordan to join the Board of Peace, as well as a number of world leaders, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The Gaza Executive Board
The Gaza Executive Board is tasked with regional coordination and includes representatives from Arab countries, such as Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi. However, the presence of Israeli-Cypriot real estate tycoon Yakir Gabay on the board raises questions about the normalisation of economic ties under the guise of reconstruction. The Executive Board is also tasked with helping to "support effective governance" in Gaza, according to the White House.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is the only Palestinian component of the three-tiered power structure. The committee is comprised of 12 members, each tasked with managing a specific service sector, such as economy and trade, agriculture, and health. However, critics argue that this structure strips Palestinians of political agency and reduces them to "municipal employees" tasked with cleaning up the sewage and rebuilding schools, but with zero say in the political future of their land.
Criticism of the Plan
The plan has been met with criticism from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating that the formation of the executive committee was not coordinated with Israel. The plan has also been criticized by Palestinians, who argue that it treats Gaza as a "commercial venture" rather than a homeland, and that it ignores the underlying occupation. Iyad al-Qarra, a Gaza-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera that this top-heavy structure reflects a "corporate takeover" of the Palestinian cause. Wissam Afifa, a writer and analyst in Gaza, argued that the plan confirms the fears of a "new mandate" and that Palestinians have been reduced to municipal employees with zero say in the political future of their land.
The International Stabilisation Force
Operating alongside the three-tiered power structure is the military pillar, led by US General Jasper Jeffers as commander of the "International Stabilisation Force". The force is tasked with "permanent disarmament" and has been met with criticism from Palestinians, who argue that it shifts the premise from relief to an Israeli security priority, potentially setting the stage for conflict. Afifa warned that this clause shifts the premise from relief to an Israeli security priority, potentially setting the stage for conflict.
Conclusion
The "Board of Peace" creates a clear hierarchy, with the US and business moguls deciding, the region paying and coordinating, and the Palestinians implementing service delivery. The plan has been met with criticism from both Israel and Palestinians, who argue that it ignores the underlying occupation and treats Gaza as a "commercial venture" rather than a homeland. The true test will be on the ground, where the people of Gaza want national, Palestinian governance, not American trusteeship. Anybody who fails to address the occupation is simply managing the crisis, not solving it.