Israeli Minister for Settlement and National Missions Orit Strock sharply criticized US President Donald Trump's newly established "Board of Peace" on Sunday, January 25, 2026, labeling it a "bad plan" and calling for Israel to fully occupy the Gaza Strip instead of risking soldiers' lives for what she described as a flawed initiative. Her remarks, made during an interview with the settler-focused radio station Galey Israel, highlight growing divisions within Israel's right-wing coalition over the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and postwar arrangements.
Strock, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party and part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, expressed strong opposition to any scenario involving Israeli forces re-entering Gaza only to hand over control to external or Palestinian entities. "We are not supposed to endanger our soldiers for this bad plan, and I may have to leave the government," she stated, signaling potential coalition instability if the direction continues unchanged. She questioned the endgame of any renewed military operation, asking rhetorically: "Let’s assume the Israeli army really enters and occupies Gaza -- to whom would we hand it over? To the Palestinian Authority? We did that in 2005 and saw the result."
The reference to 2005 points to Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, when Israel withdrew settlers and military forces, dismantled settlements, and handed security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority. That move led to Hamas's electoral victory in 2006 and its violent takeover of Gaza in 2007, events frequently cited by Israeli hardliners as evidence that territorial concessions result in increased threats.
Strock advocated for Israel to "remain the sole authority in Gaza after disarming the territory and defeating Hamas," arguing that this would prevent a repeat of past outcomes. She specifically rejected the idea of transferring control to figures like Ali Shaath, head of the Palestinian technocratic committee (National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, or NCAG) established under the ceasefire framework to handle day-to-day governance during the transitional period. "Until I see the prime minister rein in this direction, I may eventually have to say: enough," she warned, indicating she might resign if Netanyahu does not shift course.
Her comments come amid the fragile second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which took effect on October 10, 2025, following intense diplomatic efforts led by the United States. This phase includes provisions for the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions, further Israeli military withdrawals, and the initiation of large-scale reconstruction. However, implementation has been uneven. Hamas has rejected outright surrender of its weapons, instead proposing they be "stored or frozen" under certain conditions, while maintaining its identity as a resistance movement against what the United Nations regards as Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
The ceasefire has held in broad terms but remains precarious, with sporadic violence continuing. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli attacks since the truce began have killed at least 484 Palestinians and wounded 1,321, even as large-scale operations have ceased. Overall, since October 2023, the Israeli military offensive has resulted in over 71,600 deaths—predominantly women and children—and more than 171,300 injuries, leaving much of Gaza in ruins and displacing around 1.5 million of its 2.4 million residents into dire humanitarian conditions.
Trump's "Board of Peace" was formally launched on January 22, 2026, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the US president signed its founding charter. Initially conceived to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction, the board has evolved into a broader international mechanism aimed at promoting stability, restoring governance, and securing peace in conflict-affected areas globally. Trump chairs the body, which grants him significant powers, including veto rights and member appointments—features critics argue bypass traditional UN structures and concentrate authority in a single leader.
The initiative received endorsement through UN Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted on November 17, 2025, which welcomed the Board of Peace, authorized a temporary International Stabilization Force for Gaza, and supported transitional governance arrangements. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, no objections, and abstentions from China and Russia. It emphasizes no demographic or territorial changes in Gaza and excludes occupation, while tying Israeli withdrawals to progress on disarmament and other benchmarks.
At Davos, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner presented ambitious reconstruction visions, including mock-ups of skyscrapers, coastal tourism developments, and a "New Gaza" with modern infrastructure requiring billions in investment. The plan has drawn mixed reactions: support from some nations like the UAE, Hungary, Pakistan, and others that joined the signing, but skepticism and non-participation from European powers such as the UK, France, Germany, and others wary of its structure and potential to rival UN authority.
In Gaza, the technocratic NCAG under Ali Shaath is tasked with civilian administration, coordinating aid, and supporting reconstruction in collaboration with the Board of Peace. Progress includes plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing fully. However, Strock's stance reflects deep reservations among Israel's settler-aligned factions, who view any power-sharing or Palestinian-led governance as unacceptable and a security risk.
The minister's threat to potentially exit the government underscores coalition tensions in Netanyahu's administration, where far-right partners have long pushed for reoccupation or annexation policies in Gaza and the West Bank. Such views contrast with the US-led framework, which prioritizes demilitarization, technocratic rule, and eventual stability without endorsing permanent Israeli control.
As the second phase advances, challenges persist: Hamas's refusal to fully disarm, ongoing low-level clashes, massive humanitarian needs, and funding gaps for rebuilding. Strock's public dissent adds pressure on Netanyahu to balance coalition demands with international commitments, particularly as Trump remains a key ally pushing the Board of Peace forward.
Political observers note that while the ceasefire has reduced immediate hostilities, fundamental issues—governance, security control, and long-term status—remain unresolved. Strock's call for occupation represents one extreme in the debate, but it highlights the difficulties in translating diplomatic agreements into sustainable peace on the ground. With Gaza's population enduring severe shortages and displacement, the coming months will test whether the Board of Peace can deliver on its promises or if internal Israeli divisions and Palestinian rejections will derail progress toward lasting stability.
