U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair were named as founding members of the Trump administration's "Board of Peace" for Gaza, according to a White House statement released Friday. The board is intended to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and manage its reconstruction as part of President Trump's 20-point plan to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, will also sit on the founding executive board, the White House confirmed. President Trump will act as chairman of the board.
Other members of the founding executive board include Marc Rowan, the head of a private equity firm; Ajay Banga, the World Bank chief; and Robert Gabriel, a U.S. national security advisor. According to the White House statement, each member will have a portfolio "critical to Gaza's stabilization and long-term success."
President Trump stated on Thursday that the board had been formed, describing it as the "Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place." Further members of the board are expected to be named in the coming weeks, the White House said.
The formation of the "Board of Peace" comes as international efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue. The board's stated aim is to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza, which has suffered extensive damage from repeated conflicts. The specific roles and responsibilities of each board member, as well as the board's operational structure, are expected to be clarified in the coming weeks. The initiative's success will likely depend on the cooperation of various international stakeholders, including regional governments, international organizations, and aid agencies.
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