The White House has announced the first members of its Gaza 'Board of Peace', and the list of names will do little to dispel the criticism from some quarters that the US president's plan resembles, at its heart, a colonial solution imposed over the heads of the Palestinians.
There are still several unknowns - namely who else might be added, and the exact structure of what is currently a rather complicated layout. So far, no Palestinian names are included on the two separate senior boards that have been officially unveiled. One is a 'founding Executive Board', with a high-level focus on investment and diplomacy. The other, called the 'Gaza Executive Board', is responsible for overseeing all on-the-ground work of yet another administrative group, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The committee is made up of supposedly technocratic, apolitical Palestinians, led by Dr. Ali Shaath, a civil engineer by training who's held ministerial positions in the Palestinian Authority. However, of the seven members of the founding Executive Board, six are Americans - including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other members of Trump's inner circle like his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, is an exception as an Indian-born US citizen. Sir Tony Blair's inclusion is likely to fuel concerns about the Board's operation, given his historical connections to the Iraq war and colonial history in the region. Critics, including Palestinian leaders and human rights figures, have openly opposed his involvement.
Moreover, there are significant challenges ahead, including rebuilding Gaza, which has seen 80% of its buildings destroyed or damaged. Families are now struggling with winter weather and limited supplies. Ensuring a lasting ceasefire and convincing Hamas to disarm amid the complex political landscape adds to the complexities.
With world leaders showing support for the initiative, the Board of Peace has a monumental task ahead to navigate through the challenges and drive meaningful change in Gaza.
There are still several unknowns - namely who else might be added, and the exact structure of what is currently a rather complicated layout. So far, no Palestinian names are included on the two separate senior boards that have been officially unveiled. One is a 'founding Executive Board', with a high-level focus on investment and diplomacy. The other, called the 'Gaza Executive Board', is responsible for overseeing all on-the-ground work of yet another administrative group, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The committee is made up of supposedly technocratic, apolitical Palestinians, led by Dr. Ali Shaath, a civil engineer by training who's held ministerial positions in the Palestinian Authority. However, of the seven members of the founding Executive Board, six are Americans - including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other members of Trump's inner circle like his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, is an exception as an Indian-born US citizen. Sir Tony Blair's inclusion is likely to fuel concerns about the Board's operation, given his historical connections to the Iraq war and colonial history in the region. Critics, including Palestinian leaders and human rights figures, have openly opposed his involvement.
Moreover, there are significant challenges ahead, including rebuilding Gaza, which has seen 80% of its buildings destroyed or damaged. Families are now struggling with winter weather and limited supplies. Ensuring a lasting ceasefire and convincing Hamas to disarm amid the complex political landscape adds to the complexities.
With world leaders showing support for the initiative, the Board of Peace has a monumental task ahead to navigate through the challenges and drive meaningful change in Gaza.
