US President Donald Trump invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several other leaders to join
By Sammy,
US President Donald Trump invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several other leaders to join a US-backed "Board of Peace" for Gaza, according to Ynet. Invitations were also extended to the presidents of Egypt and Turkey, Jordan's King Abdullah, and Pakistan's Prime Minister, whose foreign ministry confirmed the invitation and said Islamabad would remain engaged in international efforts related to Gaza in line with UN resolutions. The board is intended to serve as an international supervisory body overseeing Gaza's temporary governance during the ongoing ceasefire.
Netanyahu later said the unveiling of the board and its executive committee "was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy." Channel 12 cited a senior US official who said Israel was deliberately not notified in advance about the executive committee's composition, particularly the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and senior Qatari official Ali Al-Thawadi, appointments the administration expected would anger Jerusalem. According to the official, Washington chose not to brief Netanyahu, views Gaza as a US-managed issue, encouraged the premier to focus on other matters such as Iran, and suggested Israel's influence over the initiative is limited.
Channel 12 also reported that Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay will serve on the executive committee and is expected to focus on reconstruction, noting his close ties to senior Trump adviser Jared Kushner and former British prime minister Tony Blair, who were also appointed. In contrast, Ynet cited US officials who disputed Netanyahu's claim, saying Israel was informed in advance about the makeup of the Gaza oversight bodies.
Reactions followed quickly. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad denounced the board, saying its composition serves Israeli interests, while Qatar defended Thawadi's appointment, citing his role in mediation efforts and his involvement in Trump's Gaza plan. Israel publicly objected to the executive committee's makeup, marking a rare public critique of the Trump administration.
Topics: Iran, Gaza, Israeli Politics
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.