Gaza Peace Council members announced: Hakan Fidan assigned to executive board

According to the White House statement, the list includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump, according to his plan announced at the end of last year which envisions a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, assumes the chairmanship of the council.

The White House statement said, "The United States is fully committed to supporting this transition framework by working in close cooperation with Israel, key Arab countries, and the international community."

The statement also noted that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will be led by Ali Sha'ath, a former Palestinian Authority official and Gaza native.

Trump also appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisors to the council to oversee "daily strategy and operations."

HAKAN FİDAN ASSIGNED TO EXECUTIVE BOARD

In addition to the Gaza Peace Council, Hakan Fidan is also serving as a member of the Gaza Executive Board, which will operate alongside it. The relevant part of the statement from the White House included the following expressions:

"A Gaza Executive Board is being established to support the Office of the High Representative and the NCAG. The board will support effective governance and the delivery of world-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza.

The appointed members are as follows:

• Steve Witkoff
• Jared Kushner
• Minister Hakan Fidan
• Ali Al-Thawadi
• General Hassan Rashad
• Sir Tony Blair
• Marc Rowan
• Minister Reem Al-Hashimy
• Nickolay Mladenov
• Yakir Gabay
• Sigrid Kaag

The United States is fully committed to supporting this transition framework by working in close cooperation with Israel, key Arab countries, and the international community to achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. The President calls on all parties to fully cooperate with the NCAG, the Peace Council, and the International Stabilization Force to ensure the rapid and successful implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.

The other members of the Board of Directors and the Gaza Administration Board will be announced in the coming weeks."

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

The Executive Board, which includes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, will provide support for all activities in the field of administration and services in Gaza.

In addition to Witkoff, Kushner, and Blair, the board includes UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy, experienced Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Marc Rowan, Nickolay Mladenov, Yakir Gabay, and Sigrid Kaag.

FOREIGN MINISTER HAKAN FİDAN

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also serving on the board, which was created to provide comprehensive support for governance and service processes in Gaza.

FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

It was known that former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair had long been one of the names mentioned for Trump's "Peace Council." The US President had announced in September that Blair was open to joining the council.

Blair, the former Labour Party leader, served as Prime Minister of the UK between 1997 and 2007. Following his term, he worked as the Middle East special envoy for the international quartet consisting of the United Nations, the European Union, the US, and Russia between 2007 and 2015.

Tony Blair is the only founding member on the board who is not a US citizen. He was also at the center of criticism due to his decision to join the Iraq War alongside the US in 2003.

US SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plays a central role in the Trump administration's foreign policy strategy.

Rubio, who previously made headlines with his statements against a ceasefire in Gaza, had described the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement signed in October as the "best and only" plan.

In the same month, Rubio also criticized the Israeli parliament's move toward the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST ENVOY STEVE WITKOFF

Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, a prominent figure in the real estate sector and a golf partner of Trump, will also be on the board.

Witkoff announced in a statement earlier this month that the second phase of Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza had been activated, with the goal of rebuilding and completely demilitarizing Gaza during this process.

Furthermore, Witkoff played a key role in the US-led contacts for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. In December, he held a meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin that lasted approximately five hours.

TRUMP'S SON-IN-LAW JARED KUSHNER

The US President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, stands out as an effective figure in the Trump administration's foreign policy negotiations.

Along with Witkoff, Kushner undertakes mediation duties on behalf of the US in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza conflicts. In November, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss critical points of disagreement in the peace process.

MARC ROWAN

Billionaire businessman Marc Rowan serves as the CEO of Apollo Global Management, a major private equity firm based in New York.

Rowan was considered a strong candidate for the US Treasury Department in Trump's second term.

AJAY BANGA

World Bank President Ajay Banga has advised many high-level US politicians, including President Barack Obama, throughout his career.

Born in India in 1959, Banga became a US citizen in 2007 and subsequently served as the CEO of Mastercard for over a decade.

Former US President Joe Biden nominated Banga for the presidency of the World Bank in 2023.

ROBERT GABRIEL

US National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel was listed as the final member of the "founding board of directors."

It is known that Gabriel has been working with Trump since his 2016 presidential campaign.

NICKOLAY MLADENOV

According to the White House statement, Bulgarian politician and former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov will be the council's representative in Gaza.

Mladenov will chair the Gaza National Administration Committee, which consists of 15 Palestinian technocrats who will take over the daily administration of post-war Gaza.

It was also stated that Mladenov will provide coordination on the ground between the Peace Council and the Gaza National Administration Committee.

However, Mladenov is criticized for his close relations with Israel. He met with Benjamin Netanyahu on January 8 and announced his appointment for the first time in Israel.

ALI SHA'ATH

It was stated that Ali Sha'ath, who served as a deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs the parts of the occupied West Bank outside of Israeli control, will be brought in to head the committee.

News Source: 12punto