U.S. Appoints Leaders to Oversee Gaza Reconstruction Efforts

Palestinian Committee Meets Under U.S. Oversight

The White House has announced the names of several key leaders who will oversee the reconstruction efforts in Gaza. This comes following the first meeting of a Palestinian committee appointed to govern the territory under U.S. supervision, which took place in Cairo on Friday. The committee is led by Ali Shaath, an engineer and former Palestinian Authority official, who has expressed a commitment to swiftly address urgent needs, particularly in shelter.

“The Palestinian people were looking forward to this committee, its establishment and its work to rescue them,” Shaath stated in a post-meeting interview with Egypt’s state-owned Al-Qahera News.

Structure and Leadership of the Oversight Board

Under the framework of President Trump’s peace plan, Shaath’s technocratic committee will manage the daily affairs of Gaza, while a “Board of Peace,” led by Trump, will provide oversight. Members of the executive board, tasked with implementing the board’s vision, include:

• Marco Rubio – Secretary of State
• Steve Witkoff – White House Special Envoy
• Jared Kushner – Senior Advisor to the President
• Tony Blair – Former British Prime Minister
• Marc Rowan – Apollo Global Management CEO
• Ajay Banga – President of the World Bank
• Robert Gabriel – Deputy National Security Adviser

Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian politician and U.N. Middle East envoy, will represent the executive board in overseeing day-to-day operations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also been invited to join the board, which he intends to accept, according to a senior aide.

Regional and International Participation

In addition to Carney, both Egypt and Turkey are reportedly considering invitations to join the group. Egypt’s Foreign Minister confirmed that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was invited, while Turkey announced that President Tayyip Erdogan received a similar invitation from the U.S. president.

This initiative is seen as a key step towards stable governance in Gaza following a two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas. Following a ceasefire that began on October 10, Israeli troops have begun withdrawing from areas of Gaza, allowing thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.

Challenges Ahead

Witkoff highlighted the ongoing challenges, which include establishing an international security force to supervise the ceasefire and the complex task of disarming Hamas. The United States has now entered what it describes as the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, which involves the return of the remains of the final hostage still in Gaza.

Witkoff warned that “failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”

To better coordinate reconstruction efforts, the White House also announced the creation of a “Gaza Executive Board,” which will collaborate with Mladenov and the technocratic committee. This board includes additional notable figures, such as:

• Hakan Fidan – Turkish Foreign Minister
• Ali Al-Thawadi – Qatari Diplomat
• Hassan Rashad – Director of Egypt’s General Intelligence Agency
• Reem Al-Hashimy – Emirati Minister
• Yakir Gabay – Israeli Businessman
• Sigrid Kaag – Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands

As efforts to rebuild Gaza progress, international collaboration and effective governance will be crucial in addressing the region’s longstanding challenges.