Tony Blair Joins Donald Trump's Newly Formed Gaza 'Board of Peace'

Former UK Prime Minister Joins Gaza Reconstruction Effort

Sir Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has been named a member of Donald Trump's newly formed Gaza 'Board of Peace'. The announcement, made on January 17, 2026, places Blair on an executive body tasked with overseeing the governance and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The board is a key component of the second phase of Trump's 20-point plan aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza.

Blair expressed his honor at the appointment, stating, 'I thank President Trump for his leadership in establishing the Board of Peace and am honoured to be appointed to its Executive Board.' He added, 'It's been a real privilege to work with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and their outstanding team. I look forward to working with them and other colleagues in line with the President's vision to promote peace and prosperity.' He further described Trump's 20-point plan as an 'extraordinary achievement.'

Composition and Mandate of the Board

The 'Board of Peace' is chaired by Donald Trump himself and comprises a seven-strong executive board. Alongside Tony Blair, other notable members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Marc Rowan (CEO of Apollo Global Management), and Robert Gabriel, a Trump aide.

According to a White House statement, each executive board member will be responsible for a specific portfolio critical to Gaza's stabilization and long-term success. These responsibilities include:

• Governance capacity-building
• Regional relations
• Reconstruction
• Investment attraction
• Large-scale funding and capital mobilization

The Board of Peace is designed to support the work of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). This committee, led by Dr. Ali Sha'ath, a former Palestinian deputy minister for planning, will manage the day-to-day affairs, restore public services, and rebuild civil institutions in post-war Gaza. Additionally, Nicholay Mladenov, a Bulgarian former UN Middle East peace coordinator, has been appointed as the High Representative of Gaza.

Context and Reactions

Blair's involvement in the Middle East peace process is not new; he previously served as the envoy for the Middle East Quartet after leaving office in 2007. However, his inclusion on the 'Board of Peace' has been met with controversy, largely due to his prominent role in the 2003 Iraq War. Despite this, Trump had indicated in October 2025 his desire to ensure Blair was an 'acceptable choice to everybody.'

The formation of the Board of Peace follows a United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025, which welcomed its establishment as an international transitional body to aid in the administration, reconstruction, and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip. The initiative marks a significant step in the international community's efforts to address the future of Gaza following the recent conflict.