President Donald Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to a newly created Gaza “Board of Peace”, tasked with overseeing the enclave’s temporary governance under Washington’s plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza.
Blair’s appointment has drawn immediate criticism, with analysts citing his role in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq
Trump acknowledged Blair’s divisive reputation last October, saying: “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”
The White House said on Friday that the seven-member founding executive board will also include Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.
Trump will chair the board, with further appointments expected.
Trump has invited the leaders of Egypt and Turkiye to join the board. A Turkish presidential spokesperson said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received an invitation on Friday, while Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was reviewing an invitation sent to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
According to the White House, board members will oversee portfolios central to Gaza’s stabilization, including governance, reconstruction, investment, and funding.
The US said it would work “in close partnership with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community.”
Blair remains a contentious figure in the Middle East. After leaving office in 2007, he served as the Quartet’s Middle East envoy but stepped down in 2015 amid criticism he was too closely aligned with Israel. A 2016 British inquiry found the case for the Iraq War “far from satisfactory,” prompting Blair to issue an apology.
“Tony Blair is very divisive,” said Fawaz Gerges, a professor at the London School of Economics, adding that many in the region view him as bearing responsibility for the Iraq War. Gerges said Blair’s inclusion was unlikely to reassure Palestinians or Arab states.
Trump also named Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers, with former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov appointed High Representative for Gaza. Former US special forces commander Major General Jasper Jeffers will lead an International Stabilization Force.
The board’s formation follows the creation of a Palestinian technocratic committee to manage day-to-day affairs in post-war Gaza, led by Ali Sha’ath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister.
The US-backed ceasefire plan, launched on 10 October, secured the release of hostages held by Hamas and halted large-scale fighting, though aid shortages and sporadic Israeli strikes persist. Israel has continued demolitions in areas of Gaza it controls.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly objected to several proposed board appointments.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
