Draft Board of Peace plan would give Trump broad control over Gaza

A draft resolution obtained by The New York Times shows the new international Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump, would give him broad powers over the governance and administration of the Gaza Strip. The draft, dated Jan. 22, would allow the chairman to nominate senior officials to run Gaza, including a “high representative” to oversee a Palestinian body administering the enclave and the commander of an international stabilization force.

It says the board would coordinate Gaza’s reconstruction, facilitate humanitarian aid, establish “humanitarian zones,” and bar people and organizations with a “demonstrated history of collaboration, infiltration or influence” with Hamas from administering or rebuilding the territory.

The document, which resembles a U.N. Security Council resolution, details that Nickolay Mladenov was named by the White House as the first high representative for Gaza and would supervise a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and direct its “day-to-day activities.” It also identifies members of the executive board announced by the White House on Jan.

16, including Jared Kushner and Tony Blair, and for the first time publicly names Susie Wiles and Martin Edelman as executive board members. The Board of Peace met last week in Davos as countries including Azerbaijan and Qatar signed its founding charter; in November the U.N. Security Council granted the board a mandate as part of U.S.-led efforts to sustain the cease-fire in Gaza.

Key Topics

World, Gaza Strip, Donald Trump, Nickolay Mladenov, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair