The Board of Peace is a failed body and should be abandoned

What the report says

In an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera on 2 August 2026, Samer Jaber argues that the U.S.-backed Board of Peace has failed to deliver on its Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction mandate and should be replaced by a United Nations-led process. The article says the board was created under President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan and was meant to oversee a Palestinian technocratic administration, an international stabilisation force and reconstruction efforts.

The writer contends that the board has not been able to compel either Hamas or Israel to fully meet ceasefire obligations, and says it has not advanced reconstruction, protected civilians or meaningfully addressed Israeli military activity in Gaza. The piece also criticizes reported funding and participation problems, saying several major countries have stayed out and that pledged support has not materialised as expected.

According to the article, the board’s approach has placed disproportionate blame on Palestinians while allowing Israeli control over aid and territory to continue. It further argues that the body lacks legal standing and accountability, including through efforts to secure immunity for its personnel and partners.

As an alternative, the article calls for responsibility to return to the UN framework, with UN agencies such as UNRWA playing a larger role. More broadly, the argument reflects a long-running debate over whether Gaza governance and reconstruction should be managed through ad hoc international mechanisms or through established UN institutions anchored in international law.