Bethlehem / PNN /
The criticism from Israel of its close ally in Washington said the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details. Saturday's statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the foreign ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but didn't explain its objections.
The committee announced by the White House on Friday includes an Israeli businessman, billionaire Yakir Gabay. Other members announced so far include two of U.S. President Donald Trump’s closest confidants, a former British prime minister, a U.S. general and representatives of several Middle Eastern governments.
The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named.
The executive committee’s members include Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.
Committee members also include a diplomat from Qatar, an intelligence chief from Egypt and Turkey’s foreign minister — all countries have been ceasefire mediators — as well as a Cabinet minister for the United Arab Emirates.
The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gaza’s day to day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee. The Palestinian committee met for the first time on Thursday in Cairo.
Hamas has said it will dissolve its government in Gaza once the new Palestinian committee takes office.
Minutes after its statement, Israel’s extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in a statement backed Netanyahu and urged him to order the military to prepare to return to war.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gaza’s second-largest resistance group after Hamas, in a statement Saturday also expressed dissatisfaction with the makeup of the Gaza executive committee, stressing it reflected Israeli “specifications.”
The Trump administration on Wednesday said the U.S.-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
The ceasefire in the deadliest Israeli war ever on Gaza took effect on Oct. 10. The first phase focused on the return of all remaining Israelis held in Gaza in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detained in Israeli jails, along with a surge in humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza.
Israel has killed over 71,400 Palestinians, including over 460 since this ceasefire began.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
