Israel pushes back against US announcement of leaders to manage Gaza's future

WASHINGTON, DC: Israel raised objections to a White House announcement, made on Friday, January 16, naming leaders who would help oversee the next phase in Gaza, marking a rare public disagreement with Washington.

Israeli officials said the formation of the Gaza executive committee was not coordinated with Jerusalem and ran counter to Israel’s policy.

The announcement came as the Trump administration moved forward with the second phase of a US-backed ceasefire framework. The dispute underscored ongoing tensions over Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements.

Israel says Gaza committee was not coordinated with Jerusalem 

Israel’s government said on Saturday that it opposed the White House’s announcement of an executive committee tasked with overseeing next steps in Gaza, saying the move was made without Israeli coordination.

In a statement, the government said the committee “was not coordinated with Israel" and was "contrary to its policy” without elaborating further.

The statement added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the foreign ministry to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the matter.

The White House announced the committee as part of a broader effort to advance post-war governance in Gaza.

The executive committee, as announced, didn't include any Israeli government officials. However, it included Israeli businessman and billionaire Yakir Gabay, alongside senior figures from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Among the named members were Rubio, Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.

Additional members included a diplomat from Qatar and an intelligence chief from Egypt, both countries that have served as ceasefire mediators, as well as a Cabinet minister from the United Arab Emirates and Turkey’s foreign minister.

Minutes after the Israeli government issued its statement, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly backed Netanyahu’s position and called on him to order the military to prepare to return to war.

Militant groups in Gaza also criticized the committee’s composition. The White House said the executive committee will oversee a newly announced Palestinian body tasked with running Gaza’s day-to-day affairs.

Trump administration advances Phase Two of Gaza plan amid ceasefire 

The committee announcement followed President Donald Trump’s recent declaration of a Gaza 'Board of Peace', a central element of the administration’s second-phase plan for the territory.

Trump announced the board on Thursday in a post on Truth Social, saying that its members would be revealed at a later date.

“It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed,” Trump wrote. “The Members of the Board will be announced shortly, but I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place.”

According to US officials, the 'Board of Peace' will provide strategic direction, while a technocratic Palestinian committee will manage Gaza’s daily governance under the oversight of an interim executive authority.

Trump is expected to chair the board, which is anticipated to include between 10 and 15 figures from Arab nations, Western countries, and other regions. 

The White House said earlier this week that the Gaza ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, has entered its more complex second phase.

The initial phase focused on the return of remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, increased humanitarian aid, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces.