The Trump administration has announced the creation of a “Board of Peace” for Gaza, naming former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair among its founding members.

US President Donald Trump has backed a peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza. The first phase of his 20-point plan, launched on 10 October 2025, led to the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. However, despite the administration’s claims that it also brought about a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group, hundreds of people from Gaza have died in the last four months, bringing the death toll to more than 71,000 Palestinians and 2,109 Israelis. Reports of aid shortages, mass starvation and continued violence throughout phase 1 have also cast doubt on the success of the plan.

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The second phase of the US peace plan was set in motion on Thursday, when Trump announced the creation of the “Board of Peace” via a post on X/Twitter:

“It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed. The Members of the Board will be announced shortly, but I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump’s administration announced that the “founding executive board” will also include Trump’s special envoy and real estate developer Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, World Bank president Ajay Banga, the head of private equity firm Apollo Global Management, Marc Rowan, US national security adviser Robert Gabriel, and Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.

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Billionaire Kushner, who like Trump comes from vast family wealth, married Trump’s daughter Ivanka in 2009 and served as Trump’s senior adviser during his first administration (2017–2021). Trump himself will serve as chair of the board, with additional appointments expected to be made in the coming weeks.

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“Each executive board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization,” a White House statement said.

Last October Trump acknowledged the potential controversy surrounding the appointment of Sir Tony Blair, who served as British prime minister between 1997 and 2007, a period that included Britain’s controversial participation in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Trump stated: 

 “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”

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Following Blair’s term as prime minister, he was appointed Middle East envoy for the Quartet of international powers (the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations), where his efforts centred on boosting the Palestinian economy and laying the groundwork for a two-state solution.

More recently, Blair has been involved in senior-level discussions on Gaza’s future alongside US officials and other stakeholders. His involvement in such talks was questioned by both the public and other elected leaders, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said Blair’s role did “raise some eyebrows”.

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Blair also attended a White House meeting with Donald Trump in August to review proposals for the territory. Reacting to his appointment, the 73-year-old former prime minister said he was honoured to take on the role and described his work to date with Witkoff and Jared Kushner as a “real privilege”. He went on to describe Trump’s 20-point plan as “an extraordinary achievement” and “something many thought could not happen”.

He added: 

"For Gaza and its people, we want a Gaza which does not reconstruct Gaza as it was but as it could and should be. And for the Israelis we want to ensure that the horrific events of October 7 2023 are never repeated…

Both myself personally and my Institute will continue to work and commit for this outcome and again I thank President Trump for his leadership which made this possible."

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The board is expected to take temporary responsibility for the administration of Gaza and to lead efforts to rebuild the territory, which has endured “unprecedented” destruction, with estimates suggesting that more than 80% to 90% of its buildings and infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed.

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