Israel pushes back on Trump’s picks for executives on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with his senior advisors to discuss Donald Trump’s “Peace Board” for Gaza, after the United States revealed that it did not include Israel in the talks on the creation of this board.

Netanyahu’s office said following Saturday’s announcement by the Gaza Executive Committee of the committee, which includes the Turkish foreign minister and a Qatari official as well as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, that it was “not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy.”

The Peace Board, part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war, is expected to temporarily oversee the administration of Gaza and manage its reconstruction.

Its exact structure remains unclear and members are still being invited.

Two separate high-level bodies were officially announced, both under the main Peace Council.

One of these is the “founding Board” with a high focus on investment and diplomacy. The other, the “Gaza Governing Board”, is responsible for overseeing all work in the field by another administrative group, the National Committee for Gaza Administration (NCAG).

So far, the only Israeli member on the Gaza Board is Yakir Gabay, an Israeli-born businessman who now lives in Cyprus. There are no Palestinians in either supreme council.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote of X: “The Gaza Strip does not need any ‘administrative committee’ to oversee its ‘rehabilitation’; it must be cleared of Hamas terrorists.”

Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, called the announcement “a diplomatic failure for Israel.”

Officials from Qatar and Türkiye, who have criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, were confirmed as members of the advisory panel.

The Comprehensive Peace Board will consist of world leaders under the chairmanship of President Trump. White House said.

While these members were not announced, it was reported that the leaders of England, Hungary, Argentina, Jordan, Türkiye, India and Egypt were invited.

Governments reacted cautiously to the invitations; Only Orban, a Trump ally, confirmed that he had accepted the role.

The White House said those selected will work to ensure “effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza.”

A government source told the BBC that Britain wanted more clarity on the committee.

On Saturday, Bloomberg reported that Trump had asked countries to contribute billions of dollars ($1bn; £745m) to join the panel.

To talk CBS news A US official confirmed the reports but clarified that countries could still join the three-year membership at no cost.

Canadian Mark Carney said he agreed with Trump’s plan in principle, but details, including financial ones, were still being worked out.

He told reporters in Doha on Sunday that he made clear that Canada does not have “bargain-free” aid funds to cover membership costs.

Meanwhile, the United Nations warned on Saturday that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was “far from over”.

The UN estimates that about 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, and families who survived the war are now struggling with winter conditions and a lack of food and shelter.

Olga Cherevko of the UN aid coordination office said tons of aid and fixed-route deliveries in the months since the ceasefire came into force were “a Band-Aid” rather than a solution.

Harsh winter weather caused further complications, causing collapsed buildings and difficulty accessing healthcare.

Israel says it is facilitating humanitarian aid and accuses the UN of failing to distribute supplies already in Gaza. He argues that any restrictions are designed to prevent Hamas from infiltrating and benefiting from aid efforts.