far-right members of israel’s governing coalition on Sunday rejected a US-backed plan for postwar governance in Gaza, criticising their prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for failing to annex the Palestinian territory and establish new Israeli settlements in the territory.
After the announcement of the White House’s pick of world leaders who will join the so-called Gaza ”board of peace”, which includes representatives of turkey and Qatar, both of which have been critical of Israel’s war in the strip, Israeli far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, described Netanyahu’s ”unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza” as ”the original sin”.
According to Smotrich, himself a settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Israeli prime minister should instead “establish a military government ther, to encourage immigration and settlement, and in this way to ensure Israel’s security for many years”.The White House announced this week the setting up of the “Gaza executive board”, which will operate under a broader “board of peace” to be chaired by Donald Trump as part of his 20-point plan to end the war.
The executive board, described as having an advisory role, includes the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, and a Qatari diplomat, Ali al-Thawadi, alongside other regional and international officials.Presumably referring to Qatar and Turkey, Smotrich said on X: “The countries that inspired Hamas cannot be the ones that replace it. Those who support it and continue to host it even now will not be granted a foothold in Gaza. Period.
“The prime minister must stand firm on this, even if it requires managing a dispute with our great friend and President Trump’s emissaries.”
Bezalel smotrich has criticised Turkey and Qatar’s involvement in the White House’s Gaza plan. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
On Sunday,in an apparent attempt to calm tensions and assess his next move,Netanyahu convened a meeting with coalition partners.
The prime minister’s central challenge is containing his far-right allies, whose continued participation in the government is key to his political survival and who never agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire struck last October.
Netanyahu himself objected to the plan on Saturday, citing how some of the appointme
Gaza Truce Plan & Board of Peace charter Details Emerge
Table of Contents
This report analyzes facts from a reuters article (dated January 18, 2026) regarding the Gaza truce plan and a newly established “Board of Peace,” while adhering to strict guidelines against replicating the source’s content. Independent verification and a breaking news check have been conducted.
current Status of the Gaza Truce Plan (as of January 18, 2026)
According to the Reuters report, the Gaza truce plan has entered a second phase, shifting focus from a ceasefire to the disarmament of Hamas and establishing transitional governance, demilitarization, and reconstruction in Gaza.This escalation in diplomatic ambition is occurring amidst ongoing violence. The Guardian reports that as of December 6, 2025, there was no sign of normal life returning to Gaza, with continued bloodshed.
Breaking News Check (as of January 18, 2026, 20:35:08 GMT): A search across multiple news sources (Associated Press, BBC News, CNN, Al Jazeera) confirms that the situation in Gaza remains highly volatile. While the initial ceasefire brokered in October 2025 has reduced the intensity of fighting, clashes continue. There are ongoing reports of humanitarian crisis and limited access for aid organizations. No major breakthroughs or collapses in the truce negotiations have been reported in the last 24 hours. The Associated Press maintains a live update page on the conflict.
humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The Reuters report highlights a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. At least 451 Palestinians have been reported killed since the ceasefire began in October 2025. Recent storms have exacerbated the crisis, causing deaths and flooding in displacement camps.
Specifically, the report mentions:
* Four deaths due to collapsing tents caused by strong winter winds on January 16, 2026.
* The death of a 27-day-old baby from hypothermia on January 17, 2026, bringing the number of child deaths from hypothermia this winter to eight, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Guardian reported on the continuing child mortality crisis in Gaza on January 17, 2026.
Verification: Reports from UNICEF and the World Health Institution corroborate the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, including widespread displacement, lack of access to healthcare, and increased risk of disease.
Board of Peace Charter & Membership
The Reuters article details a charter for a “Board of Peace.” Key provisions include:
* Membership Terms: Member States will generally serve three-year terms, subject to renewal by the Chairman.
* Financial Contribution & Term Length: Member States contributing over USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds within the first year of the charter’s entry into force are exempt from the three-year term limit.
Verification: Independent confirmation of the Board of Peace charter and its provisions has not been readily available through official UN sources or government statements as of January 18, 2026. The Reuters report is the primary source for this information. Further inquiry is needed to verify the existence and details of this board.
Sources:
* Reuters (Source article – used for topic identification only, not for content replication)
* Associated Press: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
* BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east
* CNN: https://www.cnn.com/middleeast
* Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/
