Kushner And Steve Witkoff To Join Tony Blair On Gaza Executive Board Under US-Led Plan

Overview

Western officials say that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will join Sir Tony Blair on an executive management board to help oversee Gaza’s reconstruction under a US-led plan expected to be announced this month. The arrangement is reported to sit beneath a higher "board of peace" reportedly to be chaired by Donald Trump and has reportedly gained UN backing.

Who Would Run Gaza?

Briefings to media in the United States and Israel indicate that Mr Kushner and Mr Witkoff will be part of an executive board responsible for practical rebuilding and administration. That executive board would supervise a committee of 12–15 Palestinian technocrats who are explicitly to have no links to Hamas or Fatah.

Top-Level Structure

The proposed "board of peace" — the body with ultimate authority — is expected to include heads of Arab and European states. Reports name regional figures such as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as potential members. The plan was reportedly largely developed over the summer by Mr Kushner and Sir Tony Blair.

Timeline And Phase Two

Officials expect details of "phase two" — the establishment of government and security mechanisms for a post‑Hamas Gaza — to be announced before Christmas. That announcement is said to include the names of members for the various governing bodies.

Main Obstacles

Key unresolved issues remain. Israel insists Hamas must disarm before Israeli forces withdraw; Hamas has signalled it might cede power to a Palestinian government in Gaza but continues to refuse full disarmament. A Western official told Axios that all elements are "pretty well-advanced" but that "the big question is: will Hamas agree to disarm and allow the new government to take power and govern the place?"

“All of the different elements are pretty well‑advanced. It’s all moving ahead, and the aim is to announce it before people break for the holidays,” a Western official said. “The moment of truth will come in the next few weeks.”

Reconstruction Plans And The "Green Zone"

Mr Kushner — who has no formal role in the current US administration but remains active in Middle East initiatives — is reported to be leading plans for "alternative safe communities": temporary, functional villages to be built in the IDF‑controlled east and south of Gaza (the so‑called "green zone"). Planners hope these communities will offer Gazans an alternative to areas still controlled by Hamas, although critics say the focus on the sparsely populated green zone leaves unanswered questions about dislodging Hamas from population centres in the west.

International Stabilisation Force

Negotiators are also defining a remit for an international stabilisation force and which countries would contribute troops. Indonesia and Azerbaijan have reportedly indicated willingness to send soldiers. Some potential contributors have sought Turkish participation, arguing Hamas would be less likely to fire on Turkish troops; Israel has ruled out Turkish involvement, citing concerns about Ankara’s ties to Hamas.

Security Risks And Casualties

Israeli officials publicly support the 20‑point peace plan but some privately believe the IDF may need to resume combat operations in 2026 to eliminate Hamas — a prospect that risks undermining Arab and Muslim support for the diplomatic process if large numbers of Palestinian civilians are killed. Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct 11, roughly 360 Gazans are believed to have died in Israeli strikes, and several IDF soldiers have also been reported killed.

What Comes Next

The coming weeks are likely to determine whether Hamas agrees to disarm and whether an internationally backed governance and security framework for Gaza can be implemented without renewed large‑scale fighting. Officials say final decisions on the composition and mandate of the various bodies are expected to be announced before the holiday season.