President Donald Trump named the first members of his “Board of Peace” executive committee to rebuild and revive the devastated Gaza Strip, but the office of Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu said the announcement “was not coordinated with Israel” and “runs contrary to its policy.”
The initial members include Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and former British prime minister Tony Blair, the White House said in a statement Friday.
Also announced were the members of a secondary operational committee known as the Gaza Executive Board. The board will also include Kushner, Witkoff and Blair, but also Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi — leaders from nations that Israeli leaders say will work to ensure Hamas’s survival.
“Bringing Qatar and Turkey into the Gaza Strip is a reward to Hamas for the October 7th massacre and a danger to Israel’s security,” former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said today. “This government of chaos has abdicated Israel’s sovereignty.”
Trump is to chair the panel. Each member is to oversee a different aspect of the project, such as reconstruction, attracting investment and regional relations, the White House said.
“Let’s all dream together to make more unthinkable outcomes reality,” Kushner, who has long floated an idea of promoting waterfront real estate in Gaza, wrote Friday on X.
Netanyahu’s office said late today that “the announcement regarding the composition of Gaza’s executive committee, which is subordinate to the board of peace, was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.” In a statement, the office said Netanyahu “has instructed the Foreign Minister to raise this matter with the U.S. Secretary of State.”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right minister of national security, called “on the Prime Minister to order the IDF to prepare to return to war with tremendous force in the Strip, in order to achieve the main goal of the war: the destruction of Hamas.”
The announcement did not address the major stumbling block to Trump’s multistep plan for Gaza: The requirement that Israel withdraw its troops and Hamas give up its weapons before reconstruction begins.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the announcement amounted to “a total diplomatic failure by the Netanyahu government, following the infinite heroism and sacrifice of the IDF’s soldiers and commanders.”
Blair, whose involvement has caused consternation among Palestinians, thanked Trump for his “leadership.”
“We want a Gaza which does not reconstruct Gaza as it was but as it could and should be,” he said in a statement today. “And for the Israelis we want to ensure that the horrific events of October 7 2023 are never repeated.”
Other leaders invited to become founding members include President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Argentine President Javier Milei, according to reports, officials in their countries said.
Ziad Amr, a political activist in Ramallah, in the West Bank, said Palestinians view the Board of Peace as a vehicle “to entrench policies and practices that deny the Palestinian people their political rights, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of a fully sovereign, independent state.”
As the board was being pieced together this week, the Hamas-run media office in Gaza said Israel had violated the ceasefire brokered by Trump in October by shooting civilians, launching raids and preventing the entry of humanitarian aid as wintry weather sets in. More than 460 people have been killed in Gaza during the ceasefire and 1,275 injured, the Hamas-run health ministry said today.
Israel says Hamas has violated the ceasefire by refusing to return the remains of the last hostage and attacking Israeli soldiers when it is supposed to be disarming.
The Board of Peace is part of Phase 2 of Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which has seen a fragile ceasefire since October.
“I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place,” Trump wrote on Truth Social this week. In a separate post he underscored: “The people of Gaza have suffered long enough. The time is NOW. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
A National Committee for the Administration of Gaza will be tasked with implementing Trump’s peace plan, stability and reconstruction, the White House said.
This will be led by Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath a civil engineer from Gaza who has held senior roles in the Palestinian Authority governing the West Bank, the White House said. He’ll oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life.
That committee will be supported by a Gaza Executive Board, the White House said. The board will again include Kushner, Witkoff and Blair; and also Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process; Reem Al-Hashimy, the United Arab Emirates minister for international cooperation; and Israeli Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay.
Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, a former U.N. envoy to the Middle East peace process, will serve as high representative for Gaza, the White House said. Aryeh Lightstone, head of the Abraham Accord Peace Institute, and Josh Gruenbaum, a commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, have been appointed senior advisers and will lead day-to-day strategy and operations. World Bank President Ajay Banga, deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel and billionaire private equity chief Marc Rowan have been appointed to the executive board. No Palestinians have yet been named to the committee.
Security in Gaza is to be provided by an International Stabilization Force under the command of U.S. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the White House said. No country has publicly committed forces to participate.
More board members are to be announced in the coming weeks, the White House said.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the U.N. Office for Project Services, told reporters Thursday that the needs in Gaza are urgent.
“We can’t wait for the big reconstruction, which requires billions, to immediately launch the early recovery that requires millions,” da Silva said. He listed three immediate priorities: access to a stable supply of fuel, support for demining and the clearance of some 60 million tonnes of rubble and repairs to Gaza’s main power plant, which provided between 40 and 50 percent of electricity before the war.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump today rejected a Wall Street Journal report claiming he offered JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon the position of Federal Reserve chair, calling the report false and announcing plans to sue the bank within weeks over what he described as his improper de-banking after the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021.
Trump aired his grievances against both the newspaper and JPMorgan Chase in a post published Saturday morning on Truth Social.
He began by writing: “A front page Article in The Fake News Wall Street Journal states, without any verification, that I offered Jamie Dimon, of JPMorgan Chase, the job of Fed Chairman.
“This statement is totally untrue, there was never such an offer and, in fact, I’ll be suing JPMorgan Chase over the next two weeks for incorrectly and inappropriately DEBANKING me after the January 6th Protest, a protest that turned out to be correct for those doing the protesting — The Election was RIGGED!”
Trump has previously said that JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, the nation’s two largest banks, refused to provide him with accounts. In an interview with CNBC last summer, he said he tried to “deposit a billion dollars-plus” but was turned away by both institutions.
The Truth Social post was a response to a Wall Street Journal report published last Wednesday, which claimed Trump offered Dimon the Fed chairmanship in early 2025. According to the report, Dimon did not treat the offer as serious.
Separately, Politico has reported that Dimon’s name was raised as a possible Treasury secretary candidate during the 2024 presidential campaign, though it said his relationship with Trump has “since soured.” Trump said Saturday that he never entertained the idea and praised Scott Bessent’s performance in the role, calling him a “SUPERSTAR.”
Trump continued in his post: “Why wouldn’t The Wall Street Journal call me to ask whether or not such an offer was made? I would have very quickly told them, “NO,” and that would have been the end of the story. Also, one was led to believe that I offered Jamie Dimon the job of Secretary of the Treasury, but that would be one that he would be very interested in.
“The problem is, I have Scott Bessent doing a fantastic job, A SUPERSTAR — Why would I give it to Jamie? No such offer was made there, or even thought of, either. The Wall Street Journal ought to do better “fact checking,” or its already strained credibility will continue to DIVE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump’s comments come as his Justice Department is investigating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over a long-running renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters. Powell has said the scrutiny stems from his disagreements with Trump over interest rate policy, not the renovation itself.
JPMorgan Chase informed customers in November that it was under investigation by the U.S. government over allegations of de-banking conservatives. The bank has denied closing accounts or refusing customers based on political views.
{Matzav.com}Dan Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, said he believes President Donald Trump is considering a direct move against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and suggested such an attempt could come as early as this week.
Shapiro pointed to recent public exchanges as the basis for his assessment. “Trump’s comments to Politico on needing new leadership in Iran, and Khamenei’s mindless baiting of Trump on X, lead me to believe that Trump is going to try to kill the Supreme Leader this week,” wrote Shapiro, who served in Israel during the Obama administration, in a social media post on Saturday.
He added that growing American military presence in the region could facilitate such an action. “There will soon be a US carrier strike group in the Middle East, making it easier for the US to carry out extensive strikes in Iran and be prepared to defend against Iranian response strikes.”
Shapiro further speculated that a strike against Khamenei could be paired with additional military operations. “Taking that shot at Khamenei, perhaps combined with strikes on IRGC and Basij command and control nodes, would allow Trump to say he is keeping faith with Iranian protesters he encouraged, and fulfilling his threat to make the regime pay for massacring them,” he wrote.
At the same time, Shapiro cautioned that even a dramatic move would not necessarily bring about political transformation in Iran. “But that is a long way from achieving regime change in Iran. Khamenei’s elimination, if it occurs, would most likely be followed initially by an IRGC takeover, and a still aggressive and repressive regime. The change of regime, when it takes place, will be authored by the Iranian people. Supporting them in their quest for freedom will require sustained focus, and largely non-kinetic measures. It will not be achieved by a one-and-done strike.”
Shapiro’s remarks followed comments by Trump that appeared to openly question Iran’s current leadership. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump told Politico, in what was his most explicit statement to date suggesting regime change.
Khamenei, meanwhile, responded sharply, blaming Trump for the violence and instability inside Iran. “We see the US President as at fault for the casualties, the damages, and the slander against the Iranian nation,” he said. “The US’ goal is to swallow Iran. This was a US rebellion and the nation broke it.”
The Iranian leader also accused foreign intelligence services of orchestrating unrest. He claimed that “US and Zionist intelligence trained the leaders of the rioters abroad.”
“Those who are connected to Israel and the US killed thousands,” Khamenei alleged. “We will not drag the country into a war – but we will not let international or local criminals avoid punishment.”
Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could step in on behalf of Iranian protesters, as reports have said thousands were killed during the regime’s crackdown on demonstrations.
Although tensions peaked at one point earlier this week, raising expectations of imminent U.S. action, the situation later appeared to cool after Trump said the killing of protesters had stopped.
{Matzav.com}
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the terror group has no intention of laying down its arms, arguing that disarmament would amount to national collapse and insisting the organization is ready to absorb further losses to maintain its military strength.
Qassem said Hezbollah views its arsenal as essential to its mission and survival. “The weapons in our hands are meant to defend ourselves, our resistance, our people, and our homeland,” he said, asserting that surrendering those weapons would leave Lebanon weaker and serve Israel’s long-term strategic goals.
He cautioned the Lebanese government against moving forward with any effort to strip militias of their arms, claiming that such initiatives are being pushed by outside powers, specifically the United States and Israel.
Qassem said Hezbollah “will not accept” any attempt to compel it to disarm and warned of severe consequences if pressure continues. He said that if “the resistance and its environment do not surrender,” the country could descend into chaos where “not one stone will be left upon another, and no one will be safe,” adding that Hezbollah is “prepared for the worst-case scenario.”
He also reiterated the group’s broader ideological goals, saying Hezbollah remains committed to the “liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque” and the liberation of “Palestinian” land, declaring that “Israel and its servants will not achieve their desires.”
Last year, amid sustained American and Israeli pressure, the Lebanese government approved a phased program aimed at consolidating all weapons in the country under state authority, including arms held by Hezbollah.
Under a proposal submitted by the Lebanese Army, security forces have taken steps to seize and regulate weapons possessed by militias. Over the past year, multiple reports have cited the discovery and confiscation of weapons, explosives, rockets, and advanced arms attributed to Hezbollah.
{Matzav.com}Former hostage Eitan Mor said he accepted the possibility that he might not survive captivity in Gaza if Israel’s war aims could be achieved, explaining that he placed the needs of the State above his own life.
Speaking in a joint interview with his father, Tzvika Mor, on Kan News, Eitan described a shared outlook between them, emphasizing that both viewed the national interest as paramount even under the most painful circumstances.
“It comes together,” Eitan said when asked about his father’s stance. “I knew he would choose the path that would not harm the country.”
Eitan explained that while he was being held in Gaza, he reconciled himself with the prospect that he might never return. “I came to terms with the fact that I could die in Gaza, because the State needs to destroy Hamas,” he said.
His father said that this mindset reflects a deeply rooted Zionist approach, noting that Eitan understands the broader reality of wartime sacrifice. He said Eitan “also has the ability to understand the bigger picture, a Zionist perspective – we are in a war, the country needs to win. I am not the most important person in the world; there are also soldiers above me who are being killed.”
Asked what insight his captivity gave him about Hamas, Eitan responded bluntly. “They will not give in. Many Hamas operatives told me – until you remove the last Gazan from here, we will give you another October 7. They are extremely obsessive toward us, and I wish we were as obsessive [toward them] as they are toward us.”
During the interview, Eitan also described his interrogations while in Gaza, saying his captors focused heavily on his military background and even attempted to recruit him.
“They took me down to be interrogated in some tunnel and started questioning me about the army, what I did,” he said. “So I told them, listen, I was a regular soldier in Golani Battalion 12 – you know more than I do about the army I served in – and that’s the truth. They know more than most regular soldiers. They told me, come be a spy, we’ll pay you well. I told them, of course not.”
He added that his time in captivity exposed the extent of Hamas’ intelligence gathering, including detailed written materials about the IDF and its elite units.
When asked lightheartedly who his greatest adversaries were during his army service, Eitan quipped: “The Military Police.”
Reflecting on the demonstrations that took place in Israel during his captivity, Eitan said they were a source of encouragement, though not decisive in shaping his expectations. “Those things give strength. I thank those who went out. But I don’t think it gave me hope, because in the end the government decides. They always told me, look, you see, all Israelis want [a deal] at any price. So I told them, listen, Al Jazeera doesn’t show the other side, the right wing. And if they saw the other side, they would be very disappointed.”
{Matzav.com}
[COMMUNICATED]
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President Donald Trump spoke by phone Thursday night with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to review the rapidly developing situation in Iran, according to a report published Friday by Axios, citing two individuals with knowledge of the discussion.
The call marked the second direct conversation between the two leaders within 48 hours, as Trump considers a range of responses that include possible U.S. military action as well as renewed diplomatic efforts with an Iranian regime under pressure from mass protests and internal instability.
Officials from both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide details or comment publicly on the calls.
According to Axios, during an earlier conversation on Wednesday, Netanyahu pressed Trump to hold off on any immediate military strike, arguing that Israel needed additional time to prepare for potential retaliation from Iran. The report said that this appeal was one of several considerations that contributed to Trump’s decision to delay authorizing U.S. military action.
U.S. officials have indicated that force remains on the table if Iran resumes the killing of protesters, while Israeli officials believe that a strike is still possible in the near term despite the current pause.
Axios also reported previously that Netanyahu sent Mossad Director David Barnea to the United States to coordinate closely with American officials on Iran-related matters. Barnea is expected to hold talks Friday in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
The report detailing the second Trump-Netanyahu call appeared before Trump addressed reporters’ questions about whether pressure from Arab or Israeli leaders influenced his decision not to strike Iran. Trump dismissed that notion, saying, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself.”
He pointed to recent developments inside Iran as a key factor, adding, “You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact.”
Later Thursday night, speaking at an Israeli-American Council conference in Miami, Witkoff expressed optimism that diplomacy could still avert conflict. He said any agreement with Iran would need to tackle multiple core issues, including its uranium enrichment program, its stockpile of ballistic missiles, the removal of roughly 2,000 kilograms of enriched uranium held by Tehran, and an end to Iran’s backing of proxy forces across the region.
Describing Iran’s internal economic crisis, Witkoff said, “I think if Iran, which is stumbling it its economy. It’s a pretty serious situation. Inflation is well north of 50%.” He added that Tehran still has a path toward a negotiated outcome, saying, “If they want to come back to the League of Nations, we can solve those four problems diplomatically and that would be a good resolution and the alternative will be a bad one.”
{Matzav.com}