Today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Donald Trump formally inaugurated the "Board of Peace," a US-led international body designed to oversee the reconstruction and governance of post-war Gaza. This move effectively creates a parallel structure to the United Nations Security Council for the region.
During the launch, Jared Kushner unveiled a polarizing $25 billion "Master Plan" to transform the Gaza Strip into a "high-tech economic hub" by 2035. The proposal envisions the strip not as a dependency, but as a "Singapore of the Mediterranean," featuring offshore data centers and luxury tourism zones—a vision that critics argue treats a humanitarian crisis like a distressed real estate asset.
The Context (How We Got Here)
- The Trigger: Following a fragile US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, the "Trump 20-Point Peace Plan" was nominally accepted by combatants, creating a vacuum for governance.
- The Escalation: On January 15, Trump announced the Board on Truth Social. Diplomatic friction peaked this week as the US invited 60+ nations to join, with a reported $1 billion "buy-in" for a permanent seat.
- The Split: While allies like Argentina and Hungary joined, Western European powers like France and the UK have notably hesitated, fearing the Board undermines the international legal order.
The Key Players (Who & So What)
- Jared Kushner (Architect): The developer. He presented the "New Gaza" slide deck, applying a commercial turnaround model to nation-building. His quote, "We are planning for catastrophic success," signals a high-risk, high-reward approach that ignores traditional aid models.
- Ali Shaath (Head of NCAG): The technocrat. A former PA deputy minister, he leads the "National Committee for the Administration of Gaza," reporting to Trump’s Board. He is tasked with restoring water and electricity, providing a "local face" to the international plan.
- Major General Jasper Jeffers (Commander, ISF): The enforcer. Former US Special Forces, he leads the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which will police the demilitarized zones as the IDF withdraws, effectively acting as the Board's private security arm.
The BIGSTORY Reframe (The "CEO of Sovereignty" Model)
The media is framing this as a diplomatic spat, but the real story is the Corporatization of Sovereignty.
- The Structure: This isn't a UN committee; it’s a Board of Directors. Trump is the Chairman, the nations paying $1 billion are "Shareholders," and Ali Shaath is the "COO."
- The Shift: It attempts to depoliticize the conflict by turning it into a management problem. If the "business" of Gaza succeeds (GDP growth), the theory is that the "politics" (Hamas vs. Israel) becomes irrelevant. It is an attempt to buy peace with equity.
- The AI Angle: Kushner’s plan explicitly zones 25 sq km for Data Centers. The strategy leverages Gaza's offshore energy potential and coastal location to build AI compute infrastructure, pivoting the economy from aid-dependency to tech-hosting.
The Implications (Why This Matters)
- The "Pay-to-Play" Precedent: If the $1 billion buy-in model works, it could redefine global diplomacy, where influence is explicitly sold rather than negotiated.
- The Parallel UN: If the US vets or blocks UN resolutions in favor of Board decisions next week, it confirms the intent to dismantle the post-WWII international order.
- Investable Peace: For the first time, "Peace" has a prospectus. Global construction firms (especially from Turkey and Egypt) are positioning for contracts, turning reconstruction into a stock market play.
The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)
If peace is treated as a commercial product with shareholders and a CEO, who gets fired when the project fails?
FAQs
- Who is on Donald Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza? The Board is chaired by Donald Trump. Members include Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and representatives from countries that accepted the invitation, such as Argentina (Javier Milei), Hungary (Viktor Orban), Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Western allies like France and the UK have currently declined.
- What is the "New Gaza" 2035 Master Plan? It is a $25 billion reconstruction proposal unveiled by Jared Kushner. It envisions transforming Gaza into a high-tech hub with data centers, a new port, airport, and luxury tourism zones, targeting a GDP of over $10 billion by 2035.
- Who is Ali Shaath? Ali Shaath is a Palestinian technocrat and former deputy minister appointed as the head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). He reports to the Board of Peace and is responsible for restoring civil services like water and electricity.
- Is the UN being replaced by the Board of Peace? Functionally, yes, within the specific context of Gaza. The Board aims to take over the roles of governance, security (via the ISF), and reconstruction, bypassing traditional UN agencies like UNRWA, though Trump stated the Board would work "in conjunction" with the UN.
- How much does it cost to join the Board of Peace? Reports indicate a $1 billion "buy-in" fee is required for countries seeking a permanent seat on the Board, a condition that has drawn criticism and caused countries like Canada to refuse payment.
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Sseema Giill
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