ReutersIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a meeting with his top advisers to discuss Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, after it was revealed that the US did not include Israel in talks on its creation.
Netanyahu’s office said it was “not coordinated with Israel and against its policy”, after Saturday’s announcement by the Gaza Executive Board committee, which includes the Turkish foreign minister and a Qatari official, as well as former UK PM Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Peace Board, which is part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war, is expected to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and oversee its reconstruction.
Its exact structure remains unclear and members are still invited.
Two separate senior bodies were officially opened, both sitting under the main Peace Board.
One is a “founding Executive Board”, with a high-level focus on investment and diplomacy. The other, the “Gaza Executive Board”, is responsible for overseeing all on-the-ground work of another administrative group, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
Currently, the only Israeli member of the Gaza Executive Board is Yakir Gabay, a businessman born in Israel and now based in Cyprus. There are no Palestinians on any senior board.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote in X: “The Gaza Strip does not need any “administrative committee” to manage its “rehabilitation” – it must be cleansed of Hamas terrorists”.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called the announcement a “diplomatic failure for Israel.”
Officials from Qatar and Turkey, both critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, have been confirmed as members of the advisory panel.
The previous Peace Council was made up of world leaders, with President Trump as its chairman, the White House said.
While the membership has not been announced, the leaders of the UK, Hungary, Argentina, Jordan, Turkey, India, and Egypt have reportedly been invited.
Governments reacted cautiously to the invitations, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Trump, confirming that he had accepted the role.
The White House said those elected will work to ensure “effective governance and delivery of best-in-class services that promote peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza”.
The UK has sought further clarification from the committee, a government source told the BBC.
On Saturday, Bloomberg reported that Trump had asked countries to contribute billions of dollars ($1bn; £745m) to join the panel.
Talked to CBS News a US official confirmed the reports, but clarified that countries can still join the three-year membership free of charge.
Canada’s Mark Carney said he agreed with Trump’s plan in principle, but the details — including the financials — were still being worked out.
Speaking to reporters in Doha on Sunday, he clarified that Canada does not have “unrestricted” aid funds to cover the costs of membership.
Meanwhile, the United Nations warned on Saturday that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is “far from over”.
The UN estimates that nearly 80% of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed or damaged and families who survived the war are now struggling with winter weather, and a lack of food and shelter.
Olga Cherevko from the UN aid coordination office says the delivery of tons of aid and fixed roads in the months since a ceasefire began is a “band aid” rather than a solution.
The bitter winter weather led to further complications, destroying buildings and making it difficult to access health care.
Israel says it is speeding up humanitarian aid, and blames the UN for failing to distribute supplies already in Gaza. It argues that any restrictions are designed to stop Hamas from entering and exploiting aid efforts.