Donald Trump Delays Gaza 'Board of Peace' Announcement to Early 2026 Amid Fragile Ceasefire Tensions

Washington, D.C. – December 11, 2025 – President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that the long-awaited membership list for his Gaza “Board of Peace” will not be revealed until early next year, marking another postponement in implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement that ended 25 months of war in the Gaza Strip two months ago.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the forthcoming board as “one of the most legendary boards ever assembled,” claiming that “kings, presidents, and prime ministers from all over the world” are eager to join. He reiterated that he will personally serve as chairman – a role he says was pressed upon him by international leaders – but declined to name any participants or provide a precise timeline beyond “early next year.”

The Board of Peace is the centerpiece of Trump’s 20-point reconstruction and governance plan for Gaza, which was formally endorsed by the UN Security Council in November. Under the proposal, the board – composed of heads of state and senior global figures – would oversee an international executive committee that would, in turn, supervise a technocratic Palestinian administration of 12–15 non-partisan experts responsible for day-to-day governance. The structure is explicitly designed to exclude Hamas from power while channeling billions of dollars in reconstruction funding and coordinating security until the Palestinian Authority completes reforms and takes full control, targeted for late 2027.

The delay comes against a backdrop of mounting difficulties in sustaining the fragile ceasefire that took effect on October 10. Phase one of the agreement has seen partial successes: Hamas released all remaining living hostages and a portion of deceased captives’ remains, Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and withdrew troops to designated buffer zones, and humanitarian aid flows resumed at levels higher than during previous truces. However, daily aid convoys remain far below the promised 600 trucks, Israeli security inspections continue to cause lengthy delays, and sporadic violence has persisted, with hundreds of Palestinians and several Israeli soldiers killed since the truce began.

Phase two – which requires the deployment of an international stabilization force, further Israeli withdrawals, and the formal establishment of the Board of Peace – has stalled over the unresolved issue of Hamas disarmament. Mediators have proposed that Hamas first surrender heavy weapons, followed by light arms, in exchange for ceding governance. While some Hamas leaders have signaled openness to “mothballing” arms under international supervision, the group has rejected full disarmament and continues to describe any foreign security presence as an occupation force.

The human cost of the conflict remains staggering. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 70,000 Palestinians – nearly half of them women and children – have been killed and approximately 171,000 injured since Israel launched its military campaign following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,195 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Independent studies suggest the true Palestinian death toll, including indirect deaths from disease, starvation, and lack of medical care, may significantly exceed official figures. Over 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced at least once, and the enclave’s infrastructure – including water, sanitation, electricity, and health systems – lies in ruins.

Reconstruction estimates now range between $70 billion and $100 billion, with more than 61 million tons of rubble still covering cities and towns. Gaza’s economy has contracted by 87 percent, reducing per capita income to roughly $161 – a level not seen in decades. Winter storms in recent days have flooded thousands of displacement tents, highlighting the acute shortage of adequate shelter and the continued restrictions on construction materials and humanitarian supplies entering the Strip.

International reaction to Trump’s broader plan has been mixed. Several Arab and Muslim-majority countries – including Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan – have welcomed the initiative and expressed willingness to contribute troops or funding. European officials have indicated interest in supporting reconstruction efforts. However, Palestinian critics and some legal experts argue that the proposal falls short of addressing core issues of self-determination and ending the occupation, while Israeli hardliners remain skeptical of any arrangement that could allow Hamas to retain influence.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, initially floated as a possible senior figure on the international executive committee, has reportedly been dropped from consideration due to strong objections from several Arab governments over his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion.

With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled to visit Washington later this month and Hamas leaders still publicly celebrating the October 7 attack as a strategic success, the path to phase two remains uncertain. The delayed unveiling of the Board of Peace underscores the widening gap between the ambitious vision outlined by President Trump and the harsh realities on the ground, where Gaza’s population continues to endure the combined effects of devastation, displacement, and a winter that has already brought flooding, cold, and renewed hardship.