U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a so-called “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war administration a move widely criticized as a glaring demonstration of Western hypocrisy and a marginalization of Palestinian rights.
The White House confirmed that the board will include Trump himself as chair, alongside his son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Critics highlight that this selection places individuals with long-standing ties to Israel in charge of rebuilding a territory devastated by Israeli military operations, raising serious questions about the board’s neutrality.
Kushner, a key architect of the Abraham Accords, has maintained close political and personal relations with Israeli leadership, while Rubio has consistently defended Israeli military actions and opposed international accountability for the war on Gaza. Blair, whose tenure as Quartet envoy drew repeated criticism from Palestinian representatives for failing to challenge Israeli policies, reinforces the perception that Western “peace initiatives” prioritize Israeli interests over Palestinian rights.
Palestinian factions argue that the board’s composition reflects a Western approach that reframes the Palestinian struggle as a mere administrative and humanitarian issue, rather than a political fight rooted in occupation, displacement, and systemic denial of rights. The plan, they say, sidelines fundamental Palestinian demands, including sovereignty, the right of return, and accountability for Israeli aggression.
The announcement comes amid continued Israeli military operations, settlement expansion, and mass arrests in Gaza, which remains under blockade and severe humanitarian pressure. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to provide robust diplomatic and military support to Israel, exposing the stark contradiction between Washington’s professed neutrality and its actions on the ground.
Trump has also appointed U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead an International Stabilization Force in Gaza, responsible for training a new police force and overseeing security. Jeffers’ previous missions involved monitoring ceasefires with Israel during periods of continued Israeli strikes, raising further concerns about impartiality.
A technocratic Palestinian committee, formed under international pressure to administer Gaza, has begun meetings in Cairo with participation from Kushner and other board members. Many Palestinian groups have rejected the committee, arguing that it lacks legitimacy and reflects external control rather than genuine Palestinian representation.
Palestinian commentators say the initiative exposes the West’s double standards: those closely aligned with Israeli policies are entrusted with Gaza’s future, while Palestinian voices remain excluded. Far from promoting peace, the board risks cementing long-term control over Gaza by external powers, entrenching injustice, and further eroding the Palestinian cause under the guise of reconstruction.
