U.S. Unveils Gaza 'Council of Peace' as Dispute Grows Over Reported $1 Billion Membership Clause

Overview

• President Donald Trump will preside over the new body, which the White House says will steer temporary governance, reconstruction and large‑scale financing for Gaza.
• An initial roster announced by U.S. officials includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Ajay Banga, Marc Rowan and Robert Gabriel.
• A draft statute reported by Reuters and Bloomberg outlines three‑year terms for members, with an exemption for states contributing more than US$1 billion in the first year; the White House denies any minimum fee.
• Invitees publicly acknowledging or weighing participation include Argentina’s Javier Milei, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi, Canada’s Mark Carney, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
• Criticism has mounted over the lack of senior Palestinian representation even as a Palestinian technocratic committee convenes in Cairo, alongside a U.S.-named commander, Maj.-Gen. Jasper Jeffers, for a proposed International Stabilization Force.