White House Names Gaza Peace Oversight Leaders/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The White House announced key figures to oversee the next steps in Gaza’s recovery under the U.S.-brokered peace framework following the Israel-Hamas war. A new Palestinian committee led by Ali Shaath convened in Cairo to begin planning reconstruction and governance. Meanwhile, violence continues in the West Bank and Gaza as humanitarian challenges persist.
Gaza Peace Oversight + Committee Quick Looks
- White House reveals names for Gaza reconstruction executive boards
- Trump’s plan includes technocratic Palestinian committee led by Ali Shaath
- U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Kushner, Blair, and others named to executive board
- “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s transition under U.S. vision
- Gaza Executive Board includes Turkish, Qatari, Emirati, Israeli, and European figures
- International security force planned to enforce ceasefire, disarm Hamas
- Ali Shaath pledges rapid work on shelter and recovery efforts
- Gaza recovery expected to take approximately three years
- Ongoing violence reported in West Bank and Gaza, including child casualties
- Death of 14-year-old boy mourned in West Bank village of al-Mughayyir
Deep Look: White House Names Gaza Peace Oversight Leaders
CAIRO — January 16, 2026 — The Trump administration unveiled the names of several key international figures who will help oversee Gaza’s post-war transition, as the newly formed Palestinian technocratic committee met for the first time in Cairo.
Led by engineer and former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath, the committee will govern day-to-day life in Gaza following a fragile ceasefire that ended more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The group is tasked with managing humanitarian efforts, reconstruction, and coordination with an international security force yet to be fully deployed.
“The Palestinian people were looking forward to this committee,” Shaath said in an interview with Egypt’s Al-Qahera News. “Its work is to rescue them.”
Shaath expects the recovery period in Gaza to take three years, with early priorities focusing on shelter, infrastructure, and basic services for displaced families.
White House Appoints Oversight Leaders
In a coordinated announcement, the White House introduced members of an executive board tasked with implementing the goals of the Trump-led “Board of Peace,” which will oversee Gaza’s long-term recovery and political transition.
Among the executive board’s members:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Trump envoy Steve Witkoff
- Jared Kushner, former White House adviser
- Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister
- Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management
- Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank
- Robert Gabriel, Trump’s deputy national security adviser
In addition, the “Gaza Executive Board” — a body intended to work closely with Mladenov, the Palestinian committee, and international stabilization forces — includes:
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
- Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi
- Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence
- Reem Al-Hashimy, Emirati minister of state
- Yakir Gabay, Israeli businessman
- Sigrid Kaag, former Dutch deputy PM and Middle East expert
This multilateral board reflects a mix of regional and global interests intended to support Gaza’s fragile transition and prevent renewed violence.
Violence Persists Amid Transition Plans
Despite diplomatic efforts, the reality on the ground in both Gaza and the West Bank remains volatile.
On Friday, Palestinian authorities confirmed the death of 14-year-old Mohammad Na’san, the first child reportedly killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank in 2026. The incident occurred in al-Mughayyir, a flashpoint village east of Ramallah, where residents said Israeli troops opened fire after prayers, amid a crowded street filled with civilians.
“The streets were crowded with the elderly, children, women, and elders, and they began firing relentlessly,” said Ameen Abu Aliya, head of the village council.
The Israeli military claimed the incursion came after residents threw rocks and set tires on fire.
Al-Mughayyir has faced increasing military pressure over the past year. In 2025, Israeli settlers and soldiers destroyed olive groves and demolished a children’s park, citing security concerns.
According to United Nations data, 240 Palestinians, including 55 children, were killed in the West Bank in 2025, while 17 Israelis — including one child — were also killed in attacks attributed to Palestinians.
More Civilian Deaths in Gaza
On the same day, two more children — a 7-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy — were killed in northern Gaza, near the Yellow Line in Beit Lahiya, according to al-Shifa Hospital. Their bodies were taken to the facility, but no further details were immediately available.
The killings underscore the ongoing danger faced by civilians in areas still heavily militarized or under reconstruction, even after the ceasefire.
Conclusion:
While diplomatic momentum grows around Gaza’s recovery and governance, the humanitarian and security challenges on the ground remain enormous. The newly announced leadership boards and the Palestinian technocratic committee mark a step toward stabilization, but continued violence — particularly against children — highlights the fragile reality facing the region in 2026.
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