U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair are among the founding members of the Trump administration's newly formed "Board of Peace" for Gaza, according to a White House statement released Friday. The board, part of a 20-point plan to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hamas, will be chaired by former President Donald Trump and is expected to temporarily oversee the administration of Gaza and manage its reconstruction.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, will also serve on the "founding executive board," the White House confirmed. Other members include Marc Rowan, head of a private equity firm; Ajay Banga, the World Bank chief; and Robert Gabriel, a U.S. national security advisor. According to the statement, each member will have a portfolio "critical to Gaza's stabilization and long-term success."
The formation of the board was initially announced by Trump on Thursday, who described it as the "Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place." Additional members are expected to be named in the coming weeks, the White House said.
The board's creation comes amid ongoing efforts to find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Gaza remaining a key point of contention. The "Board of Peace" aims to address not only the immediate humanitarian crisis but also the long-term political and economic stability of the region. The specific roles and responsibilities of each member, as well as the board's operational structure, are still being defined.
The involvement of figures like Blair and Rubio signals a potential bipartisan approach to the issue, though the extent of international cooperation remains to be seen. Blair served as U.K. prime minister from 1997 to 2007 and has been involved in Middle East peace efforts in the past.
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