Trump Says Gaza Board of Peace Members to Be Named in Early 2026

President Donald Trump said on Dec. 10 that he expects to name the world leaders who will serve on the Gaza Board of Peace early in the new year.

He made the comments during an economic event at the White House in response to questions from reporters.

The president said he had originally planned to ask “very distinguished people that do that kind of thing for a living” to serve on the board created under the Gaza peace plan, which established a cease-fire between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group.

“Basically, it will be the heads of the most important countries,” Trump said. “The kings, and the presidents, prime ministers; they all want to be on the Board of Peace.”

The board received authorization through a U.N. Security Council resolution on Nov. 17 to establish, with partner countries, a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. It was described in the U.S.-led resolution as a transitional ⁠administration “that will set the framework, ‌and coordinate funding for, the redevelopment of Gaza,” ‌in line with Trump’s ​20-point peace plan.

Trump is expected to head and chair the board.

As an international transitional body, the board will provide oversight and supervision to a temporary apolitical Palestinian committee consisting of qualified Palestinians and international experts who will be responsible for “delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza,” the 20-point plan states.

It will also “handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program … and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza.”

Next Phase

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that the second phase of the cease-fire deal brokered between Israel and Hamas nearly two months ago will soon begin.

He said the process—which includes establishing the ISF, which will gradually take control of Gaza from the Israel Defense Forces—will also involve the demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, which could begin as early as the end of December.

The plan also includes the establishment of a special economic zone with “preferred tariff and access rates” to the markets of participating countries, according to the plan.

“No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return,” the plan states. “We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.”

Netanyahu said there would be challenges in the second phase of the deal, adding that few people had believed the first stage of the cease-fire could be achieved.

Despite delays and bumps in the road, all but one of the hostages and hostage remains held by Hamas in Gaza have been returned. The remains of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, who was murdered by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel, remain missing.

Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled for a meeting to discuss the next phase at the White House on Dec. 29.

The Israeli leader said that the central issues would be addressed.

“What will be the timeline? What are the forces that are coming in? Will we have international forces? If not, what are the alternatives? These are all topics that are being discussed,” he said.

Netanyahu, speaking to reporters alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, said that the third phase will be to “deradicalize Gaza, something that also people believed was impossible.”

“But it was done in Germany, it was done in Japan, it was done in the Gulf states, it can be done in Gaza too, but of course Hamas has to be dismantled,” he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.