Israel objects to White House's pick of leaders for board of peace'

"Israel has objected to the White House's pick of world leaders who will join the so-called Gaza board of peace, meant to temporarily oversee governance and reconstruction in the strip. The White House and other sources announced a flurry of appointments and invitations to the organisation over the last two days, including Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, former UK prime minister Tony Blair and the president of Argentina, Javier Milei."

"Despite a ceasefire announced in October, Israel continues to kill Palestinians. At least 463 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the nominal truce was established. Israel also continues to restrict food and other forms of aid into the strip, with hunger prevailing in Gaza. Most of the population lives in substandard housing, with frayed tents providing little protection from the elements. Palestinians in Gaza have already died from hypothermia during particularly harsh cold snaps this winter."

"The exact makeup of the board of peace is still unclear, but two separate governing boards have been announced. The founding executive board will focus on investment and foreign relations, while the Gaza executive board will oversee another group, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which will oversee the day-to-day affairs in Gaza. Rubio is on the seven-member founding executive board, along with the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Trump"

Israel objected to White House selections for an international Gaza governing board and said some appointments were uncoordinated and contrary to its policy. Appointments and invitations included Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Tony Blair and Javier Milei. Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the foreign minister to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The board is intended to temporarily govern Gaza in place of Hamas and forms part of a 20-point plan. Despite a nominal ceasefire, at least 463 Palestinians have died since October, aid and food remain restricted, and many live in substandard shelter with hunger and cold-related deaths reported. Two governing boards and a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza were announced, with Rubio named to the founding executive board.

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