January 23, 2026
Board of Peace Developments
The launch of the Board of Peace at Davos this week formalized the Trump Administration’s effort to reposition the Gaza ceasefire into a broader international conflict-management framework. Officials from 19 countries attended the launch, with Western European leaders notably absent following the Greenland dispute.
- The Board of Peace originated in the 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by the UN Security Council in November. However, the Board’s charter makes no specific reference to Gaza, instead outlining a broad mandate to address multiple global conflicts. Transitioning the Board of Peace from Gaza-specific oversight to a broader portfolio of global conflicts threatens to dilute attention at a time when Gaza requires immediate and sustained, senior-level engagement from a small group of advisors stretched across multiple high-stakes negotiations – particularly as U.S. Government institutions typically involved in these efforts (e.g., USAID) no longer exist.
- President Trump is chairing the Board, which may accelerate near-term action but heightens dependence on sustained presidential attention and prioritization. The administration further institutionalized the Board by designating it within the Federal Register as a public international organization, signaling an intent to embed it within U.S. legal and diplomatic frameworks. Congress may consider oversight questions regarding the Board’s mandate, funding, relationship to existing international institutions, and the role of informal advisors like Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
- President Trump stated that the Board would “work with many others, including the United Nations,” signaling a partial retreat from earlier suggestions it might supplant the UN. (See our memo from earlier this week outlining the various governance structures for Gaza.)
- While roughly 25 countries have reportedly accepted invitations to join the Board—including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar—key Western European allies such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom were absent, raising questions about the Board’s legitimacy and ultimate effectiveness. For Phase 2 to be successful, the Board must avoid being a high-visibility diplomatic platform without the institutional depth needed to manage post-conflict implementation.
- Importantly, discussions continue regarding the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israel has linked to Hamas’s return of hostage Ran Gvili’s remains. Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov announced that an agreement had been reached; Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office noted that the Rafah crossing would open early next week and that a special effort is underway to locate and return Gvili’s body.
Gaza Phase 2 Framework
Jared Kushner presented the Administration’s framework for Gaza demilitarization, governance, and reconstruction, emphasizing that disarming Hamas would be the next phase and a prerequisite for rebuilding and Israeli withdrawal. Any durable ceasefire in Gaza requires the verifiable disarmament of Hamas, which in turn necessitates credible international security forces (ISF) with a clear mandate to enforce compliance and prevent a security vacuum.
- Kushner announced a 100-day demilitarization phase targeting Hamas weapons, tunnels, infrastructure, and munitions. He noted that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) would be the sole civilian authority with a monopoly on force. However, without immediate access, funding, and protection, the NCAG risks being perceived as nominal rather than authoritative.
- Reconstruction of Gaza would be conditioned on Hamas’s verified demilitarization, and the Israeli Defense Forces’ withdrawal would be tied to security benchmarks, ending at a security perimeter. Hamas’s “heavy weapons” (e.g., rockets, rocket-propelled grenades, and drones) would be decommissioned immediately, and small arms would be decommissioned by the new Palestinian police. Hamas would also need to give up its Gaza tunnel network. These are objectives that must be achieved to begin reconstruction, but the absence of a clearly defined and deployed ISF to enforce the demilitarization of Gaza remains the largest unresolved vulnerability.
- Additional Board of Peace priorities in Gaza over the next 100 days include expanding humanitarian aid delivery; restoring essential services such as water, electricity, sewage, hospitals, and bakeries; clearing rubble; and constructing improved temporary housing.
- Kushner also presented an ambitious long-term vision for a redeveloped Gaza, including a port, a tourism zone along the Mediterranean coast, expanded residential areas, and industrial complexes, while maintaining the external security perimeter.
Why This Matters to Democrats
For Democrats, the central priority going forward is the rapid, credible implementation of Phase 2. This will require sustained presidential focus, immediate access and resourcing for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and the swift deployment of a capable ISF to disarm Hamas.
- While much of the Administration’s longer-term goals seem aspirational, several of the more immediate objectives are critical to achieving security and stability in the region for Israelis and Palestinians.
- To prevent a return to war, Democrats must press the Administration to keep Phase 2 of the ceasefire moving forward quickly and credibly. Failure to implement governance, security, and reconstruction risks renewed conflict, a disruption to humanitarian assistance, and broader regional instability. Democrats should emphasize that success depends on continuous White House pressure to move from announcements to implementation.
- The success of the NCAG is essential to Democratic priorities around civilian protection, accountability, and Palestinian self-governance. Democrats should press for immediate NCAG access to Gaza and sufficient resources to operate as a real governing authority rather than a symbolic body.
- Democrats have consistently argued that Hamas cannot remain an armed governing force. Demilitarization must be real, independently verifiable, and enforced by a credible ISF with a clear mandate—avoiding both a security vacuum and open-ended Israeli military control.
- The Board’s expanded mandate, particularly its decoupling from Gaza in the charter, raises questions about accountability, scope, and alignment with existing international institutions—areas where Congress has a clear oversight role.
Key Challenges and Next Steps
- The obstacles to peace in Gaza are steep. Hamas has not relinquished what remains of its arsenal and continues to exert control over nearly half of the territory, and Israel remains reluctant to withdraw forces or cede authority while Hamas maintains operational capability.
- In the near term, success will depend on the rapid establishment and deployment of the ISF to enforce clear, verifiable demilitarization benchmarks; the immediate deployment and resourcing of NCAG; and sustained presidential engagement to keep Phase 2 on track.