Donald Trump names Tony Blair, Marco Rubio to Gaza ‘board of peace’

The US President said it was the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place”.

The board’s creation comes shortly after the announcement of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, charged with managing the day-to-day governance of devastated post-war Gaza.

Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath will head the new committee.

Trump on Saturday also named US Major General Jasper Jeffers to head the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza.

The US-backed Gaza peace plan first came into force on October 10, leading to the return of all the hostages held by Hamas and an end to the fighting between the Palestinian militant group and Israel in the besieged territory.

The plan’s second phase is now under way, though clouded by allegations of aid shortages and violence.

Hamas, meanwhile, has refused to publicly commit to a full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel.

– Agence France-Presse