Former British prime minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been selected as members of a new international body tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza following years of devastating conflict.
The body, officially called the “Board of Peace,” is chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and forms a central part of a United Nations-backed American initiative aimed at demilitarizing Gaza and rebuilding the enclave after the prolonged war between Israel and Hamas.
According to U.S. officials, the board will guide long-term stabilization efforts and coordinate international investment and development projects across Gaza. Its founding members include Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, investor Marc Rowan, and World Bank president Ajay Banga.
Several world leaders have confirmed receiving invitations to join the board. Canadian officials said Prime Minister Carney has accepted his invitation. Turkey’s presidency also confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was invited to participate, while Argentina’s President Javier Milei announced publicly that he had been asked to serve as a founding member. Egypt confirmed that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has received an invitation and is currently reviewing it.
Trump described the panel on social media as an unprecedented gathering of global influence, calling it the most prestigious international board ever assembled. The White House said each member will be assigned a specific role considered essential to Gaza’s recovery and future governance.
Notably absent from the board is any representative of the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank and is expected under the plan to eventually assume control of Gaza after undergoing reforms. The exclusion has drawn criticism from Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which accused the board of serving Israeli interests and being shaped to align with Israeli demands.
Blair’s inclusion has attracted particular attention. Though he led the United Kingdom for a decade, his legacy in the Middle East remains controversial due to Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war and his later role as a regional envoy, during which Palestinians often accused him of favoring Israel.
Under the U.S. framework, Gaza’s daily administration will be handled by a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee. The committee will be chaired by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a Gaza-born Palestinian who has previously served within the Palestinian Authority. Its mandate includes restoring basic services and rebuilding key institutions to stabilize civilian life.
Former United Nations Middle East peace coordinator Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed as the high representative for Gaza, acting as a bridge between the technocratic committee, the Board of Peace and regional partners.
The agreement envisions the technocratic committee running Gaza temporarily until a restructured Palestinian Authority can take control, opening the way for what the plan describes as a credible route toward Palestinian self-determination. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood.
Israeli officials said the country exercised significant influence over the approval of the committee’s members, insisting that no individuals linked to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority be included. Israel’s internal security agency reportedly signed off on all 15 names.
A separate Gaza executive board has also been formed to support governance efforts, bringing together officials from Turkey, Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, alongside representatives from the Board of Peace and the technocratic committee.
Israel has criticized the formation of this executive board, saying its structure was not coordinated with Israeli authorities and conflicts with official policy. Netanyahu has instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to raise Israel’s objections directly with Rubio.
