US President Donald Trump has announced the establishment of an international oversight board to monitor the work of Gaza’s new transitional administration. The board, which Trump will chair, aims to oversee the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a 14-member panel of Palestinians that convened for the first time in Cairo on Thursday. The committee is tasked with managing daily life and basic services in the Palestinian territory, which has been severely impacted by two years of conflict.
According to reports, the oversight board, dubbed the “Board of Peace,” will include international experts, such as Bulgarian and former UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov. The board’s members are expected to be announced soon. The committee in Gaza, composed of technocrats with no ties to the Islamist group Hamas, will operate under US and Egyptian supervision. The technocrats, appointed for their professional expertise, will focus on restoring governance and public services in the region.
The US-brokered peace plan involves a two-phase approach. The first phase included the release of hostages and prisoners, while the second phase aims to disarm Hamas in Gaza. However, Hamas has accepted a non-political administration without its involvement but continues to reject disarmament. The group still holds the remains of one dead Israeli hostage, which has yet to be handed over.
The establishment of the oversight board marks a significant development in the US-led efforts to stabilize the region. The board’s role will be crucial in ensuring the effective governance of Gaza and the implementation of the peace plan. As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the international community will be closely monitoring the progress of the oversight board and the transitional administration. The next steps in the peace process will depend on the successful implementation of the plan’s second phase, which hinges on the disarmament of Hamas and the restoration of stability in the region.
