Trump’s Gaza Plan: Board of Peace to Be Named Early 2026, US General to Lead ISF
The US President, Donald Trump, said that he would reveal the names of the members of the Board of Peace – which will run the transitional governance in Gaza under Trump’s chairmanship – early next year.
Moreover, the Trump administration plans to appoint an American general to lead the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, as part of the US 20-point peace plan.
Board of Peace
Trump said on Wednesday that he would announce the names of world leaders and officials who would take part in the Gaza Board of Peace in early 2026, reported Reuters.
During an economic event in the White House, the US President noted that several leaders were eager to join the board. “The kings, the presidents, prime ministers – they all want to be on the Board of Peace,” Trump said, adding that the board “will be one of the most legendary boards ever. Everybody wants to be on it.”
What is the Board of Peace?
In November 2025, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a US-drafted resolution which endorses President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
The resolution authorizes the formation of the Board of Peace, headed by Trump alongside other members and heads of State. This international transitional body will oversee a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee – made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts – which will handle delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza.
Moreover, it will establish the framework and manage the funding for the Strip’s redevelopment until the completion of the Palestinian Authority (PA) reform program.
Proposed Names
Set to be formed during the second phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, the US President will chair Gaza’s Board of Peace, while his top advisers will be members of an international executive board, reported Axios.
According to sources with knowledge, the US has floated the name of former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov to serve as Board of Peace representative on the ground in Gaza and cooperate with a future Palestinian technocratic government.
Furthermore, the US has invited Germany and Italy to the Board of Peace, Axios reported citing two sources with direct knowledge.
During the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Washington in November, Trump also invited the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to join the board.
“I believe we are going to be lucky enough to have the Crown Prince be a very distinguished member of the Board … in the coming months, the Crown Prince and I are going to ensure that the ceasefire and everything else is going on that so positive in the Middle East,” Trump said.
Tony Blair Excluded
While the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, appeared as the first confirmed member to run the Board of Peace, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Monday that Blair will not hold a key position in the board.
The British newspaper attributed Blair’s exclusion to objections from Arab and Islamic nations due to his strong support for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Trump seemed to acknowledge the controversy over the former UK Prime Minister. In October, he said: “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”
However, Blair could still play a less influential role in the Board of Peace, according to a briefed source. “He could still have a role in a different capacity and that seems likely,” the person told FT.
US to Lead ISF
The UN-adopted resolution authorizes the formation and immediate deployment of the ISF, which will work with Israel, Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to help maintain security and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
The ISF deployment will take place in the second phase of Trump’s peace plan, with the Israeli troops withdrawing further to a designated Red Line.
Israeli and US officials told Axios that the Trump administration is planning to lead the ISF under the command of an American general, although the White House has confirmed that it will not send American troops to Gaza.
During a visit to Israel this week, UN Ambassador Mike Waltz told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would appoint a two-star general to lead the Gaza force, two Israeli officials said.
ISF Contributors
Earlier, the US said that many countries have shown interest in joining the ISF, including Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, but they asked for a UN mandate for the force.
However, some countries, including the UAE and Jordan, have voiced concern over the lack of a clear framework for the force and the possibility of ending up fighting Palestinian elements. Moreover, Israel opposed the idea of Turkish troops joining the ISF in Gaza.
According to a European diplomat, the US recently notified its European allies that the ISF will deploy only after the formation of the Board of Peace, though it did not provide a clear timeframe.
It also sent a briefing to European diplomats warning them that if their countries declined to contribute troops to the ISF or support the countries that do, the Israeli military will not withdraw from the areas of Gaza it still occupies.
