Hamas governed Gaza since June 2007, but on January 15, 2026, a 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats met in Cairo—none affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The next day, Trump announced the Board of Peace's leadership: himself as chair, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK PM Tony Blair, Jared Kushner (his son-in-law), special envoy Steve Witkoff, and others. By January 17, Netanyahu's office had declared the arrangement to be 'not coordinated with Israel and contrary to its policy.'
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza will manage utilities, education, and civil services for 2 million people. In that territory, 90% of homes are damaged, reconstruction costs exceed $70 billion, and Israel still occupies 53% of the land. Whether this arrangement survives depends on three unresolved questions. Will Hamas actually disarm when negotiations show no agreement on what disarmament means? Will Israel withdraw further while publicly rejecting the international framework? Will the International Stabilization Force deploy before governance collapses, with General Jasper Jeffers as commander but with uncertain troop commitments?
17 events
Latest: January 18th, 2026 · 5 months ago
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January 2026
NCAG Publishes Mission Statement
LatestPolitical
Committee chair Ali Shaath signs official mandate statement emphasizing 'peace, democracy, and justice' as core values. Statement outlines priorities including restoring security, electricity, water, healthcare, and education.
US-Israel Diplomatic Rift Over Board Composition
Diplomatic
Netanyahu's office declares Board of Peace composition 'was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy.' Senior U.S. official responds: 'This is our show, not his show.'
General Jasper Jeffers Named ISF Commander
Appointment
Trump appoints Major General Jasper Jeffers to command International Stabilization Force. Jeffers previously co-chaired Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire monitoring mechanism in Lebanon.
Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt Invited to Join Board
Diplomatic
Trump invites Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Erdoğan of Turkey, and President el-Sisi of Egypt to become founding members of Peace Council. More than 60 countries reportedly contacted.
Board of Peace Executive Members Announced
Political
Trump reveals founding executive board: himself as chair, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK PM Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Apollo CEO Marc Rowan, and deputy NSA Robert Gabriel.
NCAG Holds First Meeting in Cairo
Political
Committee meets with UN envoy Mladenov. Arab diplomat warns Israel blocking civil servant deployment, 'hobbling it out of the gate.'
Phase Two Launched, NCAG Formed
Political
Witkoff announces launch of Phase Two. Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators reveal 15-member technocratic committee led by Ali Shaath.
Mladenov Named Board of Peace Director
Appointment
Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov confirmed as director-general of Board of Peace after meeting Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
December 2025
ISF Command Planning Conference
Military
CENTCOM hosts 26-nation conference in Qatar to plan International Stabilization Force deployment structure.
November 2025
UN Security Council Adopts Resolution 2803
Legal
Council votes 13-0 (China, Russia abstaining) to authorize Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force. Mandate runs through December 2027.
October 2025
Ceasefire Takes Effect
Milestone
Fighting officially pauses. Israel withdraws from urban areas but retains control of approximately 53% of Gaza's territory.
Israel and Hamas Sign Ceasefire
Diplomatic
Agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh. Phase One includes hostage releases, prisoner exchanges, and partial Israeli withdrawal.
September 2025
Trump Unveils 20-Point Gaza Plan
Diplomatic
Trump announces comprehensive peace plan alongside Netanyahu at the White House. Gives Hamas deadline of October 5 to accept.
October 2023
Israeli Ground Invasion Begins
Military
IDF enters Gaza after weeks of airstrikes. Over the following two years, more than 71,000 Palestinians are killed.
Israel Declares War
Military
Israel declares war for first time since 1973, mobilizes 300,000 reservists—the largest call-up in the nation's history.
Hamas Attacks Southern Israel
Military
Hamas launches Operation Al-Aqsa Flood with 4,300+ rockets and ground incursions. 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals killed, 251 taken hostage.
June 2007
Hamas Seizes Control of Gaza
Political
Hamas forces defeat Fatah in violent clashes, taking full control of the Gaza Strip. 188 people killed in the fighting.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
May 2003 - June 2004
Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq (2003-2004)
After the U.S. invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, the Coalition Provisional Authority governed Iraq under administrator Paul Bremer. The CPA wielded executive, legislative, and judicial authority under UN Security Council Resolution 1483. It disbanded the Iraqi army—instantly unemploying 500,000 people—and purged Ba'ath Party members from government, creating a leadership vacuum.
Then
Iraq's economy grew 46.5% in 2004, the highest post-conflict growth on record. But security deteriorated rapidly; the decisions to disband the military and de-Ba'athify fueled an insurgency.
Now
The CPA transferred sovereignty after just 13 months. Iraq descended into civil war by 2006. The experience established that technocratic governance cannot succeed without security—and that excluding existing power structures creates enemies.
Why this matters now
The Gaza transition faces the same fundamental question: Can international administrators provide services and legitimacy faster than armed factions can destabilize them? Hamas, unlike the Ba'ath Party, has not been forcibly excluded—but also has not disarmed.
2 of 3
June 1999 - February 2008
UNMIK in Kosovo (1999-2008)
After NATO's bombing campaign ended Serbian control, UN Security Council Resolution 1244 established UNMIK with unprecedented authority—all legislative, executive, and judicial power over Kosovo's 2 million people. A NATO-led peacekeeping force (KFOR) provided security. The mission gradually transferred powers to elected local institutions.
Then
UNMIK stabilized Kosovo and prevented a return to ethnic violence. Within three years, Provisional Institutions of Self-Government were functioning under international oversight.
Now
Kosovo declared independence in 2008; international supervision ended in 2012. The 13-year transition demonstrated that UN administration can work—but requires sustained commitment, clear end-state goals, and functional security.
Why this matters now
Resolution 2803's Board of Peace structure mirrors UNMIK's approach: international oversight transitioning to local governance. But Kosovo had no equivalent to Hamas—an armed movement that governed the territory and refuses to disband. The question is whether Gaza can follow the Kosovo path without first resolving Hamas's status.
3 of 3
September 2014 - May 2021
Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (2014-2021)
After the 2014 Gaza war killed 2,251 Palestinians and destroyed 17,800 homes, the UN established the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism to coordinate rebuilding under Israeli security restrictions. The GRM controlled imports of construction materials to prevent diversion to militant use.
Then
Reconstruction proceeded slowly. Three years after the 2014 war, only 57% of destroyed homes had been rebuilt.
Now
The GRM became a model of 'normalized siege'—managing humanitarian minimums rather than enabling recovery. Gaza's infrastructure remained fragile when the 2021 and 2023 conflicts struck, each time destroying what had been partially rebuilt.
Why this matters now
The $70 billion reconstruction challenge dwarfs 2014's scale. If the NCAG faces similar restrictions—Israel is already blocking civil servants—Gaza risks another cycle of partial recovery and renewed conflict rather than genuine transition.
