President Donald Trump’s new “Board of Peace,” meant to help rebuild Gaza after the damage caused there during the Israel-Hamas War, is taking shape — and there’s a price for admission.
The price tag isn’t the only concern. In a controversial move, Trump has also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the group.
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Boards within a board
As part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas War, the Board of Peace will oversee the construction and temporary governance of Gaza.
On Friday, the White House announced the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). It will be overseen by former Palestinian Authority Deputy Minister Dr. Ali Sha’ath.
“The NCAG will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance. 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 on President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”
Trump has appointed an executive board, which he will chair, to “operationalize the Board of Peace’s vision.” That executive board consists of Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Special Envoy Steve Witkoff; Trump’s businessman son-in-law Jared Kushner; national security adviser Robert Gabriel; former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair; Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management; and Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group. Each of them will oversee a specific part of the plan to stabilize Gaza.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Putin has been invited to join the committee. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has also been invited, according to his country’s foreign ministry.
There’s also a second committee of senior officials called the Gaza Executive Board, which the White House says will “help support effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza.”
That committee will include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair and Rowan, but add Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari diplomat Ali Thawadi; Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad; U.A.E. Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy; businessman Yakir Gabay; former U.N. humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag; and former U.N. envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov.
Mladenov will also serve as the High Representative for Gaza. In that role, Mladenov “will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG.”
The White House says additional members of both executive boards will be announced in the coming weeks.
Permanent membership buy-in
The Board of Peace is invitation only and countries can choose between a 3-year or permanent membership. In order to become permanent members, though, they must pay $1 billion, according to multiple reports.
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The UN estimates it will cost about $70 billion to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe.
A U.S. official told CNN all funds raised through the membership program will be used to rebuild Gaza, saying, “There will not be exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat that plagues many other international organizations.”
Contributing funds is not required to take part in the Board of Peace, but again, those who do not will only receive a three-year term.
At least a dozen countries have been invited so far. Canada, Hungary and Vietnam say they have already accepted. Although it’s not clear whether they’ll give a $1 billion donation.
Other countries that say they received an invitation to be founding members include Egypt, Pakistan, India, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania.
The Board of Peace’s full roster is expected to be unveiled this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump’s plans receiving pushback
Executive Board member Tony Blair has distanced himself from the buy-in for permanent membership. On Sunday, a spokesperson for the former prime minister made it clear that Blair will not publicly support the plan.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that while he has accepted the invitation to join the Board of Peace, he has not decided whether to pay the permanent membership fee, saying he has a “precondition for moving forward.”
“We still do not have unimpeded aid flows, humanitarian aid flows at scale to the people in Gaza,” he told reporters in Qatar on Sunday, saying that would have to be guaranteed before Canada buys in.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled he’s not thrilled with some of the members Trump named to the Gaza Executive Board. Netanyahu’s office said in a social media post after the announcement that the prime minister instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar to contact U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
It’s not clear exactly who or what Israel is opposed to in relation to the Board of Peace, but Israel has said in the past it does not want Turkey to play a role in Gaza’s reconstruction.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir added to that, saying, “The Gaza Strip does not need any “administrative committee” to oversee its “rehabilitation” – it needs to be cleansed of Hamas terrorists, who must be destroyed, alongside massive voluntary emigration – in accordance with the original plan of President Trump.”
“I call on the Prime Minister to order the IDF to prepare to return to war with tremendous force in the Gaza Strip,” Ben Gvir added.
Concerns have been raised that only one Israeli — who is a businessman, not even one of the country’s leaders — and no Palestinians have been invited to join either of the committees.
