Netanyahu Criticizes Trump Over Gaza Board of Peace Staffing, Says He Was Not Consulted; Source: The Rebuke Is for Show - Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the White House on Saturday over its choice of officials overseeing Gaza's reconstruction, adding that he had not been consulted.
"The composition of the Gaza executive committee – which is subordinate to the Board of Peace – was not coordinated with Israel, and is contrary to its policy," Netanyahu's office wrote in Hebrew on Saturday.
However, a source told Haaretz that the rebuke was made solely for appearances and that the prime minister had been aware of the White House announcement ahead of time.
On Friday, the White House named figures and groups in the Board of Peace, an organization founded by U.S. President Donald Trump, slated to oversee the cease-fire plan agreed to by Hamas and Israel.
The announcement noted the creation of a Palestinian technocratic committee to govern Gaza, two executive boards comprised of international officials and an office to oversee the technocratic committee.
One of the bodies, the Gaza Executive Board, includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi and Egypt's spychief Hassan Rashad.
It was initially unclear which committee Netanyahu was referring to, as the Board of Peace has at least three bodies relating to Gaza. Reuters reported that Netanyahu meant the Gaza Executive Board.
The Israeli statement did not mention specific members, but since the cease-fire officially came into effect in October 2025, the Israeli government has attempted to curb Turkey's influence in the Gaza Strip, including by blocking Turkish inclusion in a summit.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called to resume war in the Strip: "Gaza does not need any 'executive boards' to oversee its 'reconstruction' – it needs ... massive encouragement of voluntary immigration."
"The Gaza Strip is a part of our ancestral homeland, and there is no place for any hostile entity or 'Executive Board' there," the far-right minister added.
Organizational structure
Comprised of heads of state, invited by Trump. Trump chairs the board, and its votes and decisions will be subject to his approval. Terms will be limited to three years and will be renewable with his approval, except for countries that contribute more than $1 billion in the first year.
The Executive BoardMembers include Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, Tony Blair, businessman Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel.
Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum are senior advisers.
The Office of the High Representative will be headed by former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov. The White House described his role as an "on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, or NCAG."
Gaza Executive BoardThe Gaza Executive Board will support the Office of the High Representative.
Though the scope of its authority is unclear, its members include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi; Egypt's spychief Hassan Rashad; Emirati Minister Ebrahim al-Hashimy; former Middle East envoy for the UN, Sigrid Kaag; Cypriot-Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay; Marc Rowan; Nickolay Mladneov; Tony Blair; Steve Witkoff; and Jared Kushner.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is a technocratic committee made up of Palestinians overseen by the Office of the High Representative. Dr. Nabil Ali Shaath, who previously served as deputy transportation minister in the Palestinian Authority, will lead the committee.
It is unclear whether the new administration will enjoy real freedom of action or broad public legitimacy.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his statement rejecting the Gaza Executive Board composition.
"The original sin is the prime minister's unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza, place it under martial law, encourage emigration and [Israeli] settlement," Smotrich said.
Smotrich also criticized the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the board, saying, "The countries that breathed life into Hamas cannot be the ones to replace it. Those who support it and continue to host it even now will not gain a foothold in Gaza."
MK Amit Halevi from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Board of Peace, saying the president isn't different from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
"For both, this is a step in their joint plan to destroy Israel," Halevi said.
Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid responded to Netanyahu's statement, accusing him of "allowing Turkey and Qatar to enter Gaza." The Yesh Atid chair called for Egyptian rule in the Strip.