Palestinians Weary of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Amid Second Phase of Ceasefire

The announcement of a U.S. backed “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s postwar governance in the second phase of the ceasefire is framed by Washington as a transition toward demilitarization, technocratic rule, and reconstruction. However, reports show that Palestinians in Gaza, where violence still persists, assess the proposal through daily insecurity, prolonged displacement, and unresolved accountability after two brutal years of war.

A ceasefire has technically been in place since October 10, yet Israel has continued intermittent attacks, with hundreds of Palestinians allegedly killed in the three months that followed.

The broader context is starker. Since the start of the war in October 2023, at least 71,400 Palestinians have been killed, and vast areas of Gaza have been destroyed. Siege conditions, displacement, and economic collapse continue to define daily life, limiting expectations that any administrative change will quickly improve conditions on the ground.

“Decisions Made From Afar”

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described the second phase as moving “from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” with a Palestinian technocratic committee managing daily affairs under the oversight of an international Board of Peace chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Justice, Control, and Oversight

The technocratic committee will be headed by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister, while oversight is expected to fall to Nickolay Mladenov, Bulgaria’s former foreign and defense minister and a former UN envoy. Human rights advocates question whether such arrangements can confront the political drivers of Gaza’s devastation.

External Actors and Limits

Israel’s role looms over the plan. Many more share this weariness, with Israel reportedly putting up effort to make sure countries that oppose its devastation of Gaza are not included in the process. On its recent coverage, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel has asked the Trump administration to exclude Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from the Board of Peace, aiming to limit Türkiye’s role in Gaza.

Trump has publicly praised Türkiye and Erdogan, saying he trusts him, while the board’s final composition remains undecided as lobbying efforts operate in the background.

For Gaza residents though, peace remains defined less by governance models than by survival.