Israel has expressed strong objections to a recent announcement made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the formation of an American-led committee designed to oversee future developments in Gaza.
The Israeli government criticized the establishment of this Gaza executive committee, stating that it had not been coordinated with them and contradicted their existing policies, although specific details were not disclosed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Foreign Ministry to reach out to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding these concerns, as reported by his office. Notably, the committee unveiled by the White House on Friday does not include any Israeli officials but does feature Yakir Gabay, an Israeli businessman and billionaire.
Among the announced members of the committee are some of Trump's most trusted allies, including two close confidants, a former Prime Minister of Britain, a U.S. general, and representatives from various Middle Eastern nations.
This initiative, termed by the White House as a Trump-led "Board of Peace," aims to implement a vision for the future of Gaza. Additionally, the White House introduced a new Palestinian committee to manage the day-to-day operations in Gaza, which will operate under the guidance of the executive committee. This Palestinian committee convened for its inaugural meeting in Cairo just last Thursday.
The executive committee comprises several notable figures, including Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law), former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Marc Rowan (CEO of Apollo Global Management), Ajay Banga (President of the World Bank), and Robert Gabriel (Deputy National Security Adviser).
Furthermore, the committee also includes a diplomat from Qatar, Egypt's intelligence chief, and Türkiye’s foreign minister—each of which has previously acted as mediators for ceasefire discussions—and a cabinet minister from the United Arab Emirates.
It’s noteworthy that Türkiye maintains a complicated relationship with Israel while having established good ties with Hamas. This positioning could enable Türkiye to play a crucial role in persuading Hamas to relinquish authority and disarm.
Hamas has indicated that it would dissolve its Gaza government once the new Palestinian committee takes over; however, there have been no indications thus far that it plans to dismantle its military forces or security apparatus.
Netanyahu's office did not provide any comments on Saturday regarding Israel’s objections to the newly formed executive committee. Almost immediately following the public statement, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, issued a statement in support of Netanyahu, urging him to prepare the military for potential conflict.
Additionally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, another far-right ally of Netanyahu, took to social media to assert that "the countries that sustained Hamas cannot be the ones to replace it."
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which ranks as Gaza’s second-largest militant organization after Hamas, similarly voiced its discontent with the composition of the Gaza executive committee, claiming it reflected Israeli interests.
As the situation evolves, the Trump administration has informed that the ceasefire plan for Gaza, which was drafted by the U.S., is transitioning into its second phase. This phase encompasses the establishment of the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, efforts aimed at disarming Hamas, and the reconstruction of the war-torn region.
The ceasefire came into effect during what has been described as the deadliest warfare between Israel and Hamas, beginning on October 10. The initial phase concentrated on the safe return of all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, alongside a significant increase in humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
In January, Israel imposed restrictions that banned dozens of aid organizations from operating within Gaza. The conflict erupted following a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of more than 250 people. In response, Israel's military offensive has reportedly led to over 71,400 Palestinian fatalities, including more than 460 since the ceasefire commenced, according to data from the Health Ministry in Gaza, which is operated by Hamas. This ministry is known for maintaining detailed casualty records that are generally deemed reliable by UN agencies.
