The White House said that the Gaza Peace Council, which will be chaired by Trump, will include several figures, among them US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, his son in law Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the head of Egyptian intelligence Hassan Rashad, Ali Al Thawadi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Strategic Affairs, UAE minister Reem Al Hashimy, as well as the former First Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Sigrid Kaag.
The White House statement added that Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Grunbaum have been appointed as senior advisers to the Gaza Peace Council.
It also announced the appointment of Nikolay Mladenov as a member of the executive council, where he will assume the position of High Representative for Gaza, and Major General Jasper Jeffers as commander of the International Stabilisation Force in the Strip.
The statement said that each member of the executive council will oversee a specific portfolio of critical importance to Gaza’s stability and long-term success, including but not limited to administrative capacity building, regional relations, reconstruction, attracting investment, large-scale financing, and capital mobilisation. In support of this operational model, the president appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Grunbaum as senior advisers to the Peace Council, tasked with leading strategy and daily operations and translating the council’s mandate and diplomatic priorities into disciplined implementation.
It added that Nikolay Mladenov, a member of the executive council, will assume the role of High Representative for Gaza. In this capacity, he will serve as the field liaison between the Peace Council and the National Council for the Administration of Gaza. He will support the council’s oversight of all aspects of Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and development, while ensuring coordination between the civilian and security pillars.
The statement continued that, to entrench security, preserve peace, and establish a safe environment free of terrorism over the long term, Major General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed commander of the International Stabilisation Force. He will lead security operations, support comprehensive disarmament efforts, unify command structures, and enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.
The White House indicated that the National Council for the Administration of Gaza will be chaired by Ali Shaath and will oversee the restoration of services and the rebuilding of institutions in Gaza.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that he was honoured to lead the Gaza Peace Council, describing it as “the greatest council ever formed”, and confirming that its members would be announced soon.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump added that Hamas would relinquish its weapons willingly or by force, announcing the formation of the Gaza Peace Council and affirming his support for a technocratic government.
He continued by saying that, with the support of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, a comprehensive agreement would be ensured for the disarmament of Hamas and the destruction of tunnels.
Trump stated, “As I have said before, Hamas can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
He also demanded that Hamas immediately fulfil its obligations, including returning the last body to Israel and moving forward with disarmament, according to his statement.
On Friday, the Gaza Administration Committee held its first meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, announcing the official start of its work and preparations to enter the Strip to carry out the tasks awaiting it, foremost among them urgent relief and reconstruction.
The committee, which consists of 15 members, most of whom previously held positions within the Palestinian Authority, is one of the provisions of US President Donald Trump’s plan to administer the Gaza Strip. This plan came in the aftermath of a genocidal war launched against the territory by the occupying state with the support of Washington on 8 October 2023, which continued for two years.
