This week, the Trump administration transitioned what was originally presented as a Gaza-specific reconstruction effort into a permanent, global institution. Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have officially launched the “Board of Peace,” a body that now claims a mandate far beyond the borders of Gaza, aiming to rewrite the rules of international diplomacy and “good governance” worldwide.
We believe it is critical to look closely at the structure of this board, the price of its seats, and the specific interests it is designed to serve. This is not a humanitarian initiative; it is the formalization of a “pay-to-play” global order led by actors who prioritize private profit and executive power over human rights and international law.
A Global Power Grab Under the Guise of “Peace”
The Board of Peace is no longer just about rebuilding a war-torn enclave. Its recently circulated charter reveals an ambition to operate in parallel—or even in opposition—to the United Nations. Chaired by Donald Trump himself, the board grants him the unilateral power to set agendas, invite members, and issue resolutions.
Perhaps most alarming is the $1 billion price tag for influence. While countries can join for three-year terms at the Chairman’s discretion, a $1 billion “cash contribution” secures a permanent seat on the board. This effectively puts global peace-making up for sale to the highest bidders, ensuring that only the wealthiest nations and elites have a permanent say in the fate of “reconstructed” nations.
The New Face of the Board: Expansion and Elites
The board has expanded its ranks, further cementing a coalition of financial titans, political insiders, and controversial world leaders.
Key Members of the Executive Board:
- Donald Trump (Chairman): Holds absolute authority over membership and strategy, treating global stability as a transactional real estate deal.
- Marco Rubio (U.S. Secretary of State): A staunch advocate for unconditional support of current Israeli policy, now tasked with “operationalizing” the board’s vision.
- Ajay Banga (President of the World Bank): His inclusion signals the intent to leverage international financial institutions to back the board’s private-sector-first agenda.
- Robert Gabriel (Deputy National Security Adviser): A key architect of the administration’s “New Gaza” vision.
The “Gaza Executive Board” (Operational Arm):
- Tony Blair (Former UK Prime Minister): Blair’s inclusion is perhaps the most chilling signal of the board’s true nature. As a principal architect of the 2003 Iraq War and the policy of “regime change,” his involvement suggests a return to interventionist strategies that prioritize the dismantling of states over the protection of people. His legacy of destabilizing the Middle East through unilateral military action stands in direct opposition to a genuine peace process.
- Jared Kushner: Recently presented “New Gaza” mock-ups at Davos featuring luxury high-rises and “coastal tourism” zones, viewing the ruins of Gaza primarily as “valuable waterfront property.”
- Hakan Fidan (Turkish Foreign Minister): Represents a shift toward incorporating regional powers into the deal-making structure, despite a history of domestic repression.
- Marc Rowan (CEO, Apollo Global Management): A private equity billionaire whose firm specializes in distressed assets, raising fears that reconstruction is being treated as a “market opportunity.”
- What This Tells Us
This expanded board reflects a worldview where:
- Sovereignty Is a Commodity: Permanent influence is bought for $1 billion, not earned through a commitment to human rights.
- Reconstruction Is Gentrification: The “New Gaza” vision prioritizes luxury tourism and investment zones over the right of return for displaced survivors.
- Accountability Is Optional: By creating a body that operates outside the UN and staffing it with those who have historically bypassed international law, the board seeks to insulate itself from legal and moral scrutiny.
Global Exchange’s Position
We reject a “peace” that is auctioned off to billionaires and political loyalists. A just and lasting peace cannot be built on $1 billion buy-ins or luxury real estate mock-ups; it must be grounded in human rights and international law, with accountability for all parties—not just those who can’t afford a seat on the board. It must center genuine Palestinian sovereignty, ensuring that Palestinians lead their own recovery rather than being treated as “passive recipients” of a master plan designed in Mar-a-Lago or Davos. And it must uphold public accountability, with reconstruction funds serving the people rather than generating returns for private equity firms.
Global Exchange will continue to name these power dynamics clearly. We are working with our partners on the ground to monitor how this “Board” attempts to bypass local leadership and international standards.
Thank you for standing with us against the commodification of peace.