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Trump’s Gaza Board Offers $1 Billion Seats as Israel Objects to Coordination

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Board Structure and $1 Billion Buy‑In On 18 January 2026 the White House unveiled a two‑board system for Gaza’s post‑ceasefire governance. The “Board of Peace,” chaired by Donald Trump, will grant permanent seats to any nation or entity that contributes a $1 billion buy‑in, while non‑paying members receive three‑year terms [1][2]. Founding members named include former UK prime minister Tony Blair, U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio, and U.S. adviser Jared Kushner, with invitations extended to Canadian leader Mark Carney and others [1][5][6].

Israeli Government’s Rejection and Limited Representation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened senior advisers on 18 January 2026 to protest that Israel was excluded from the board’s formation, describing the move as “contrary to our policy” [2][3][4]. The only Israeli listed on the Gaza Executive Board is businessman Yakir Gabay; no Palestinian Authority officials sit on either senior board, though a separate technocratic Palestinian committee is slated to manage day‑to‑day affairs [2][3][6].

Funding Terms and Membership Options The $1 billion permanent‑seat model was first reported by Bloomberg and is reiterated by CNN, which emphasizes that the buy‑in will fund reconstruction without creating a bloated bureaucracy [1]. BBC notes that the White House, citing CBS, indicated three‑year board membership could be offered without payment, creating a tiered access structure [2]. Critics argue the pay‑to‑play approach may privilege wealthy donors over broader stakeholder inclusion [6].

International Invitations and Reactions Invitations have been sent to leaders from Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who confirmed his acceptance [2][5]. The United Kingdom sought clarification before committing, while Argentine President Javier Milei publicly praised his invitation [5]. Some regional powers, notably Israel, object to the roles of Turkey and Qatar, fearing they could undermine Israeli security considerations [1][2].

Points of Divergence Among Reports CNN lists Mark Carney and Marco Rubio among the permanent‑seat founders, whereas BBC’s 18 January story highlights Kushner and Blair but does not mention Carney [1][2]. AP’s 17 January account stresses that the executive committee will operate without any Israeli officials, contrasting with CNN’s claim that former British prime minister Tony Blair will sit on the board [3][1]. All outlets agree on the absence of Palestinian Authority representation on senior boards, but only AP details a separate Palestinian technocratic committee meeting in Cairo [3][7].

Sources

Timeline

Oct 2023 – A ceasefire begins after the Oct 7 war, halting major hostilities and launching a hostage‑prisoner exchange, but sporadic fighting and casualties continue on both sides, creating the backdrop for later diplomatic initiatives. [4][8]

Jan 11, 2026 – Hamas announces it will dissolve its Gaza authority and hand power to a Palestinian technocratic committee once formed, aligning with a U.S.-backed framework that places Donald Trump at the head of an international Board of Peace overseeing transition, disarmament and reconstruction; Netanyahu cites former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov as the prospective director‑general of the board. [8]

Jan 13, 2026 – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighs joining Trump’s proposed Board of Peace for Gaza, saying leaders must be “in the room” to address working‑people issues, while the Sunday Times reports an invitation that the UK government says it has not formally received. [5]

Jan 15, 2026 – Steve Witkoff launches Phase Two of the 20‑point plan, warning that Hamas’s refusal to disarm will trigger “serious consequences,” and outlines a three‑tier Gaza governance model that excludes Hamas and places a foreign‑led Board of Peace at the top, with rumored members such as Starmer, Meloni and Erdogan. [4]

Jan 16, 2026 – The White House reveals the leadership team for Gaza oversight after the technocratic committee’s first Cairo meeting; engineer Ali Shaath pledges a three‑year reconstruction timeline focused first on shelter, while Ajay Banga and Nickolay Mladenov join the executive boards and an International Stabilisation Force is slated for deployment. [10]

Jan 17, 2026 – The White House unveils two Gaza boards—a founding Executive Board dominated by Americans (including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and Tony Blair) and a Gaza Executive Board chaired by Nickolay Mladenov with regional diplomats—but critics note the absence of any Palestinian names and warn the scheme resembles a colonial imposition. [2]

Jan 17, 2026 – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office publicly rebukes the United States, saying the Gaza Executive Board announcement was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy, and instructs the foreign minister to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio. [7]

Jan 17, 2026 – Israel formally objects to the U.S. Gaza oversight plan, highlighting that the announced executive committee contains no Israeli officials and that a Palestinian technocratic panel met for the first time in Cairo; far‑right ministers back Netanyahu while Palestinian Islamic Jihad denounces the board as reflecting Israeli influence. [9]

Jan 17, 2026 – Sir Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are named to the founding executive board of the Gaza Board of Peace, confirming the board’s role in Trump’s 20‑point plan to manage temporary administration and reconstruction, and invitations are extended to Canadian PM Mark Carney, Argentine President Javier Milei and Egypt’s President al‑Sisi. [3]

Jan 18, 2026 – Israel’s prime minister convenes advisers after the White House names the first Gaza Executive Board members—including Turkey’s foreign minister, a Qatari official, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner—asserting the move was uncoordinated with Israel and contrary to its policy. [1]

Jan 18, 2026 – A U.S. official reveals that permanent seats on the Board of Peace are available for a $1 billion buy‑in, granting donors indefinite membership while non‑paying members receive three‑year terms; Netanyahu objects to Turkey and Qatar’s roles, arguing the arrangement was not coordinated with Israel. [6]

Jan 18, 2026 – Donald Trump posts on Truth Social that the Board of Peace “has been formed” and calls it “the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled,” while far‑right Israeli minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir tweets that Gaza must be “cleansed of Hamas terrorists” rather than administered by an international committee. [7]

Jan 18, 2026 – The White House outlines that the Board of Peace will seek $1 billion from invited countries, with a three‑year membership option for non‑contributors, and emphasizes that the board will deliver governance and services for Gaza; Viktor Orban confirms his acceptance and the UK asks for clarification. [1]

Future (as of Jan 2026) – The International Stabilisation Force, to be led by Major General Jasper Jeffers, is slated to train vetted Palestinian police and maintain security during the transition, while reconstruction is projected to take roughly three years under the technocratic committee’s guidance. [3][10]

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