Trump Names Rubio and Blair to Gaza “Board of Peace”
17th Jan. 2026
The Trump administration has unveiled a new international body to oversee post-war Gaza. He has appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair among the founding members of a newly formed “Board of Peace”. The White House announced on Friday that the initiative forms a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. This initiative will also guides Gaza’s stabilization and reconstruction.
The statement also included that Trump would act as chairman of the board. He’s also expected to temporarily oversee governance in Gaza while managing long-term rebuilding efforts. Concurrently, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will also sit on the founding executive board. The group also include senior figures from finance, global development, and US national security. While announcing news about the board, Trump described it as the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place”.
Individuals that are named as Founding Members of “Board of Peace”
In addition to Rubio and Sir Tony Blair, the founding executive board includes Marc Rowan, head of a major private equity firm, World Bank president Ajay Banga, and US national security adviser Robert Gabriel. The White House said that each appointee would hold a portfolio which is “critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success”. Although further details of their roles are yet to be clarified.
Moreover, officials confirmed that more members would be named in the coming weeks. The administration is seeking to broaden its international backing for the plan. Alongside the founding executive board, a separate “Gaza executive board” is also being formed to support governance. This board is also drawn on some of the same figures as well as additional appointees.
Tony Blair’s inclusion is particularly a highlight of the group, as he already shown his previous involvement in Middle East diplomacy. He served as UK prime minister from 1997 to 2007 and later became the Quartet’s envoy to the region, where he represented the US, EU, Russia, and UN. In that role, he focused on economic development in Palestinian territories and on creating conditions for a two-state solution.
Tony Blair’s role in Board draws mixed reactions
Although Tony has already been involved in high-level discussions about Gaza’s future, his appointment has drawn mixed reactions in the UK. In August, he attended a White House meeting with Trump to discuss Gaza, which Witkoff described as “very comprehensive”.
However, speaking to the BBC in September, UK health secretary Wes Streeting said that involving Tony Blair, relating his role in the Iraq War, would “raise some eyebrows”. At the same time, Streeting pointed to Blair’s role in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
The US Peace Plan runs alongside the Palestinian governance body
The announcement comes shortly after the creation of a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). This body will handle day-to-day governance in the territory after the war. Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, will head the committee and work closely with Mladenov and international partners.
Trump’s plan also includes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to Gaza. The White House said that US Major General Jasper Jeffers would lead the force, which aims to train and support vetted Palestinian police units in order to “establish security, preserve peace, and establish a durable terror-free environment”. The US peace plan came into force in October and has now entered its second phase.
Phase one delivered a ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, partial Israeli withdrawal, and a surge in humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, phase two is expected to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and full demilitarization, including the disarmament of Hamas. Despite these ambitions, uncertainty remains over Gaza’s long-term future and the fate of its 2.1 million residents. The ceasefire is fragile, humanitarian conditions remain dire, and both sides continue to accuse each other of violations.
Web Resources on the US Board of Peace
1. Reuters.com: US names Rubio, Tony Blair, Kushner to Gaza board under Trump’s plan
2. BBC.com: Who is on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza?
3. CNN.com: Former UK leader Blair joins Carney and Rubio on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza
4. AlJazeera.com: Trump names Tony Blair, Jared Kushner to Gaza ‘Board of Peace’
5. AcademicBlock.com: Trump Presses Gaza Deal Phase Two, Warns Hamas to Disarm Fast