Source: Board of Peace Derives Power from the UN
Jan. 28—Sources close to the White House say that a leaked document purporting to be a plan for governance of Gaza by President Donald Trump's newly created Board of Peace has not been approved by that body and is being deliberately misinterpreted to portray the Board as seeking the equivalent of an American regency over the war ravaged area,
"First, let's be clear about one thing," said a source, "the Board is not seeking to supplant the United Nations in any way whatsoever. The Board was created by the United Nations in its approval of the Trump Peace Plan last year. It's powers are delimited in Gaza by that resolution as transitional to turning over a reconstructed Gaza to the full autonomy of a Palestinian government. I can confirm that Palestinians will be involved in every stage of this transition."
Drop Site news has received and published a document drafted for adoption by Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” that outlines the U.S.-centered governing body that would rule over all of Gaza: “All transitional legislative and executive authority, emergency powers, and the administration of justice are vested in the Board of Peace,” the resolution says.
The reported document is a basis for discussion, said the source and has not been approved, or signed by President Trump. But even that document, said the source, is bounded by the UN resolution as it says the Board has "transitional" power over Gaza.
The Board resolution, as reported by Drop Site, refers to itself internally as “BOP/RES/2026/1,” a form that mirrors the resolution nomenclature of the UN.
The nine people named as members of the executive board are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former British PM Tony Blair, Presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, billionaire global asset manager Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, NSA advisor Robert Gabriel (all of whom have been previously named), as well as President Trump’s Chief of Staff Susan Wiles and billionaire real estate developer Martin Edelman.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza would be led by Ali Sha’ath, a former government official of the Palestinian Authority.
Under the Board resolution, Gaza would be divided into humanitarian zones, entry into which would be restricted to people approved by the Executive Board. An “International Stabilization Force” would provide security, and would be headed by U.S. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers.
Asked if Trump envisions the Board as having a shelf life beyond Gaza, and whether it might play a role in other crisis areas, like the Ukraine, the source said that Trump would like the Board to be able to help where it can. He said Trump does not see it replacing the UN, but working in concert with that organization, which he pointed out, has not always taken a lead role in various crises, citing the Ukraine as an example. "So, in answer to the question as to whether the Board will exist beyond Gaza, I would say yes," said the source.
Asked about whether he expected China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin to join the Board, the source said that Trump was working on it. The source reported that Trump's special liaison for the Board, Josh Gruenbaum, accompanied Witkoff and Kushner to meet with Putin last week. "There was extensive discussion of the Board and its functions," said the source, with Putin indicating that he wanted to participate. "He suggested that the $1 billion membership fee be taken from more than $5 billion in blocked Russian funds held in the United States. Putin's proposal has been accepted by Trump, which shows his commitment to getting Russian participation. The Chinese have been more critical of the Board, calling it a 'billionaire's private UN.' I think you will find that Chinese President Xi is far more favorable to the idea of joining than the Chinese commentaries might indicate." The source would not venture as to when the two leaders might join.