The White House officially announces the composition of the Peace Council in the Gaza Strip and reveals its tasks

The White House announced the formation of the members of the Peace Council and the adoption of the composition of the National Committee for the Management of Gaza, among the four structures dedicated to managing the transitional phase in the Gaza Strip.

This comes within the framework of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end Israel’s war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, which was adopted by the UN Security Council under its resolution 2803 issued on November 17, 2025.

As of Friday, the number of structures approved to manage this phase, according to the Security Council resolution, was three: The Peace Council, the Palestinian Technocratic Committee, and the International Stabilization Force.

However, in a statement issued Friday evening, the White House announced the addition of a fourth structure, called the Gaza Executive Council, with the aim of providing comprehensive support for various activities related to governance and service delivery in the Strip.

According to the UN resolution, the mandate granted to both the Peace Council and the forms of the international civilian and security presence in Gaza will remain in effect until December 31, 2027, unless the Security Council takes another resolution or approves the extension of the mandate in cooperation with Egypt, Israel, and member states.

The White House statement outlined some of the features of the Peace Council’s composition, noting that President Trump will assume its presidency, and that to achieve the Council’s vision, a founding executive council has been formed that includes experienced leaders in the fields of diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy.

The Executive Founding Board includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the President’s son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, billionaire Mark Rowan, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and US political advisor Robert Gabriel.

Each member of the Executive Constituent Council will oversee a specific and vital area for stability and long-term success in Gaza, including, but not limited to, capacity-building in administrative governance, regional relations, reconstruction, attracting investment, scaling up funding, and mobilizing capital.

Trump also appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Greenbaum as senior advisers to the Peace Council, to take over the day-to-day and strategic operations and translate the Council’s mandate and diplomatic priorities into reality.

Returning to the Security Council resolution, the Peace Council is defined as a transitional administrative body with international legal personality, which is responsible for setting the framework and coordinating financing for the redevelopment of Gaza, in accordance with the comprehensive plan and the relevant principles of international law.

The resolution states that the Council will continue its work until the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) satisfactorily completes its reform program and is able to regain control of Gaza in a safe and effective manner.

With regard to its powers, the resolution authorizes Member States participating in the Peace Council to conclude arrangements for the implementation of the comprehensive plan, including arrangements relating to the privileges and immunities of ISAF personnel, and to establish operational entities with international legal personality, empowered to conclude the transactions necessary for the performance of their functions, including:

• Managing the transitional government, including overseeing a non-political Palestinian technocratic committee that includes industry talent and manages the day-to-day affairs of the civil service.
• Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the launch of an economic recovery program.
• Coordinate and support the delivery of public services and humanitarian assistance.
• Organizing the people’s movement to and from the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the comprehensive plan.
• Perform any additional tasks necessary to support and execute the plan.

The Security Council confirmed that these operational entities would operate under the framework of and under the auspices of the Transitional Authority of the Peace Council, funded by donor contributions, and in accordance with the approved funding mechanisms.

Despite the US announcement of the council’s members, its working mechanisms and how its powers will be implemented on the ground remain unclear.

The Council was recently created, with the White House making it clear that it aims to promote good governance and provide quality services that support peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza.

The board includes members of the Executive Founding Council, namely Witkoff, Kushner, Blair and Rowan, in addition to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al Hashemi, Qatari diplomat Ali al Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, former UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov, businessman Yakir Gabbay, and Dutch politician Sigrid Kaag.

Mladenov will assume the duties of High Representative for Gaza, serving as a field liaison between the Peace Council and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, in addition to overseeing the coordination of civilian and security aspects in the Strip.

Additional members of both the Executive Constituent Council and the Gaza Executive Council will be announced in the coming weeks.

According to a White House statement, former Palestinian Deputy Minister of Planning Ali Shaath will head the Palestinian Committee of Technocrats under the name of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

The committee will be tasked with rehabilitating public services, rebuilding civil institutions, stabilizing daily life within the sector, and laying the foundations for long-term sustainable governance.

According to the UN resolution, the committee is a non-political body responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the civil service, and is composed of 15 Palestinian national figures.

Local sources and Palestinian and international media reported that the committee was formed and its members were named, as it included officials in charge of communications, agriculture, health, economy, education, finance, water, and social affairs, in addition to the police and security issues.

On the ground, the committee hasn’t yet begun its actual work inside the Gaza Strip, but Hamas has confirmed through its spokesman, Hazem Qassem, that it will work to facilitate the handover process and make the work of the independent committee a success.

On the other hand, Shaath said that the committee officially began its work in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, in preparation for moving to Gaza and implementing an urgent relief plan.

The White House has announced the appointment of Jasper Jeffers as commander of the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, where he will lead security operations, support disarmament, and secure the delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.

The statement didn’t specify the countries participating in the force, while Israeli press reports said Washington had reached out to several countries, including Italy, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Azerbaijan.

The UN resolution authorizes member states cooperating with the Peace Council to establish an interim international stabilization force in Gaza, to be deployed under a unified command and in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law.

The aim of this force is to disarm, destroy and prevent the reconstruction of military infrastructure, withdraw the weapons of non-state armed groups, protect civilians and secure humanitarian corridors.

UNIFIL will also assist the Peace Council in monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire and carrying out the operations necessary to achieve the objectives of the comprehensive plan, funded by donor contributions.