Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called an emergency meeting with his top advisers to discuss the so-called "Board of Peace" announced by Donald Trump for Gaza, after it was revealed that Israel was not involved in talks to create this body.
Netanyahu's office said the initiative "was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy," following Saturday's announcement of the Executive Board for Gaza, which includes Turkey's foreign minister, a Qatari official, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The “Board of Peace” is part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and is expected to have an interim role in administering Gaza and managing its reconstruction. However, the exact structure of this mechanism remains unclear and the list of members has not been finalized.
So far, two senior structures have been announced under this board: a Founding Executive Board, with a focus on investments and diplomacy, and an Executive Board for Gaza, which will oversee work on the ground through another administrative body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
Israel is represented by only one name on this structure, Israeli-born businessman Yakir Gabay, who resides in Cyprus. There are no Palestinian representatives on any of the boards, a fact that has provoked strong political reactions in Israel.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on the X network that “the Gaza Strip does not need administrative committees for ‘rehabilitation’, but for cleansing from Hamas terrorists.” Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid called the initiative “a diplomatic failure for Israel.”
Officials from Qatar and Turkey, two countries that have been critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza, have been confirmed on the advisory panel. According to the White House, the "Board of Peace" will be chaired by Donald Trump himself and will be made up of world leaders to whom invitations have been sent, including leaders from the United Kingdom, Hungary, Argentina, Jordan, Turkey, India and Egypt.
So far, only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has publicly confirmed that he has accepted the invitation. Other governments have reacted cautiously, seeking more clarity on the board's role and funding. According to Bloomberg, Trump has asked countries to contribute $1 billion each to join the panel, although a US official clarified that there is also the possibility of three-year membership without payment.
At the same time, the UN has warned that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is “far from over.” According to the UN, about 80% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, while families face harsh winters, food shortages and shelter shortages. Israel, for its part, claims it is easing humanitarian aid, blaming the UN for inadequate aid distribution and arguing that the restrictions are aimed at preventing Hamas from benefiting from the aid./ Taken from BBC
