Blair and Rubio on Gaza Peace Board
- It comes after the announcement of a separate 15-member palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), charged with managing the day-to-day governance of...
- Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA) which governs parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control, will head that new committee.
- the statement also said that Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN Middle east envoy, would be the board's representative on the ground in Gaza working with...
The Trump administration has named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as two of the founding members of its “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will also sit on the “founding executive board”, the White House saeid in a statement on Friday.
Trump will act as chairman of the board, which forms part of his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas.
It is indeed expected to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and manage its reco
BBC/Monika GhoshIt comes after the announcement of a separate 15-member palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), charged with managing the day-to-day governance of post-war Gaza.
Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA) which governs parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control, will head that new committee.
the statement also said that Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN Middle east envoy, would be the board’s representative on the ground in Gaza working with the NCAG.
Trump’s plan says an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) will also be deployed to Gaza to train and support vetted palestinian police forces and the White House statement said that US Major General Jasper Jeffers would head this force to “establish security,preserve peace,and establish a durable terror-free environment”.
The White House said that a separate “Gaza executive board” was being formed that would help support governance and includes some of the same names as the founding executive board as well as further appointees.
The US peace plan came into force in October and has as entered its second phase, but there remains https://www.cfr.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-hamas-war). The initial ceasefire period ended on December 1, 2023. Sporadic fighting and negotiations for renewed ceasefires have continued since.
* Update (as of 2026/01/17): While there have been periods of reduced intensity, a full and lasting ceasefire has not been achieved. Negotiations continue, mediated by various parties, but remain stalled as of this date.
2. Phase Two - Reconstruction & Demilitarization:
* Claim: Phase two would involve reconstruction and full demilitarization of Gaza, including disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
* Verification: This reflects stated US and Israeli goals for a long-term resolution. However,the feasibility and conditions for demilitarization remain highly contested. (source: Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-gaza-post-war-plan-2024-01-18/).
* Update (as of 2026/01/17): Demilitarization remains a major sticking point in negotiations. Hamas has repeatedly stated it will not disarm. reconstruction efforts are severely hampered by ongoing conflict and restrictions on aid delivery.
3. US Expectations & Consequences:
* Claim: The US expects Hamas to comply fully with obligations,including returning the body of the last dead Israeli hostage,and failure to do so will have serious consequences.
* Verification: This aligns with US government statements. (Source: US State Department – official statements available on their website: https://www.state.gov/).
* Update (as of 2026/01/17): The return of hostage remains is a critical demand of Israel and the US. As of this date, the status of the last remaining bodies is still unresolved.
4. Ceasefire Violations & Casualties:
* claim: The ceasefire is fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Almost 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes as the ceasefire came into force, and three Israeli soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian groups.
* Verification: reports from late 2023 and early 2024 confirmed numerous violations of the ceasefire by both sides. Casualty figures are difficult to independently verify, but reports from organizations like the UN and human rights groups corroborate important numbers of deaths on both sides. (source: UN OCHA – https://www.ochaopt.org/).
* Update (as of 2026/01/17): Casualty figures have dramatically increased as the initial ceasefire period. According to the Gaza Health Ministry (data subject to verification challenges),over 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 7,2023. Israel reports over 1,200 deaths in the initial Hamas attack and subsequent fighting, with hundreds of soldiers killed. (Source: Associated press – https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war).
5. Humanitarian Conditions:
* Claim: Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire.
* Verification: This is consistently reported by the UN and humanitarian organizations. (Source: World Food Program – [https://www.wfp.org/](https://www.wfp.