Trump Names Blair And Rubio To Gaza Peace Board

On January 16, 2026, the White House unveiled a sweeping new plan to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and transition to a new administration, revealing the members of a so-called “Board of Peace” charged with one of the Middle East’s most daunting challenges. The announcement, which quickly ricocheted through diplomatic circles and newsrooms worldwide, places former President Donald Trump in the role of chairman, with a roster of high-profile figures spanning politics, finance, and international diplomacy.

According to statements released by the White House and reported by BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera, the Board of Peace’s founding executive members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel, and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The board is expected to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and manage its reconstruction as part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

“The United States remains fully committed to supporting this transitional framework, working in close partnership with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan,” a statement from the White House read on Friday. The board members, described as “leaders with experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy,” will each oversee a portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization. These portfolios include governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization. Additional members for both the Executive Board and the Gaza Executive Board are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

One particularly notable appointment is that of Sir Tony Blair. His selection has already sparked debate, given his contentious legacy in the Middle East. As BBC notes, Blair’s role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq remains a sore spot for many in the region. After leaving office, Blair served as the Quartet’s Middle East envoy, focusing on economic development and efforts toward a two-state solution. Trump himself acknowledged the sensitivity of Blair’s inclusion, remarking in October, “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”

Other significant figures named include Bulgarian diplomat and former senior United Nations official Nickolay Mladenov, who will serve as the High Representative for Gaza. Mladenov, who previously acted as the UN’s top envoy to the region from 2015 to 2020, is expected to be the board’s representative on the ground, working closely with Palestinian officials. U.S. Major-General Jasper Jeffers, current commander of U.S. special forces, has been appointed as Commander of the International Stabilisation Force for Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, Jeffers will lead security operations, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and support for “comprehensive demilitarization.”

The Board of Peace is just one part of a multi-layered governance structure. The White House announcement also detailed the creation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to handle day-to-day governance. This committee is led by Ali Sha’ath, a Gaza native and former Deputy Minister of Transportation for the Palestinian Authority. Sha’ath is seen as a pragmatic technocrat with deep experience in public administration and economic development. The NCAG is expected to take over administrative duties in Gaza, replacing Hamas’s previous governing role, as outlined under the Trump plan.

“Dr Sha’ath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities,” the White House statement emphasized.

The plan’s rollout comes on the heels of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on October 10, 2025, ending two years of brutal conflict. The ceasefire facilitated the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. However, the truce remains shaky. Both sides have traded accusations of violations, and the cost in human life continues to mount. According to Gaza’s health ministry, almost 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began, while the Israeli military reports three of its soldiers killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the United Nations stressing the urgent need for unrestricted aid deliveries.

The war in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, as reported by Al Jazeera and BBC. The second phase of the U.S.-brokered plan now aims to move from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. Yet, many Palestinians remain skeptical about what this will mean in practice, especially as Israeli attacks and restrictions on humanitarian aid persist.

Criticism of the Board of Peace and its members has been swift and pointed. Ashish Prashar, a former aide to Tony Blair, voiced concerns about the legitimacy of international trusteeship over Gaza, stating, “The future of Palestine should only be decided by Palestinians.” Prashar added, “It appears the only qualification for joining the Gaza ‘peace board’ is to have a strong track record of endorsing (and arming) Israel’s project of genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing, and criminalising those who oppose it,” as quoted by Al Jazeera. Kushner, another controversial appointee, has previously suggested Palestinians are incapable of self-governance and has strong personal and familial ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces war crimes allegations at the International Criminal Court.

Despite these criticisms, some see potential in the board’s diplomatic firepower. Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that while Blair’s record on Iraq “would raise some eyebrows,” his role in brokering Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement demonstrates significant diplomatic skill. “If he can bring those considerable skills there, in both diplomacy and statecraft, that can only be a good thing,” Streeting said.

The Board of Peace’s structure also includes a Gaza Executive Board, which will support governance and services on the ground. This board features many of the same faces as the main executive board, along with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al Thawadi, reflecting an effort to involve regional stakeholders. The United Nations’ involvement, via Mladenov, is seen as crucial to lending credibility to the process, as noted by Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna: “To have the UN viably involved in the reconstruction of Gaza is utterly essential for these boards, the Board of Peace and the administration board, to have a semblance of credibility.”

As the U.S.-brokered peace plan enters its second phase, the future of Gaza and its 2.1 million residents hangs in the balance. The coming weeks will reveal whether this ambitious, and at times controversial, coalition can deliver the stability, reconstruction, and hope that the war-weary enclave so desperately needs.