President Trump’s Unprecedented Middle East Diplomacy

As President Trump has announced the formal establishment of the Board of Peace, the Executive Committee, the appointment of the commander of the International Stabilization Force and the Palestinian National Committee for Gaza that was announced previously, we have officially entered Phase 2 of the end of war in Gaza agreement. The White House official statement said: “This milestone perfectly aligns with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which endorsed President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan and welcomed the establishment of the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the President’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”

I know several members of the new Gaza national committee (the Gaza technocratic government). I have worked in the past directly with one of them. They are all good people dedicated to Palestine and believers in the essential need for Palestine to make peace with Israel. Yesterday the Gaza National Committee held its first meeting in Cairo, and their success will be the success for all of the people of Palestine and Israel.

The reporting on this issue from statements by President Trump on his Truth Social account posts as well as messages that I have received from some of the people directly involved this process clearly demonstrate that this process is moving forward. This will include the demilitarization of Hamas, the deployment of the International Stabilization force (ISF). The Commander of the Force has been appointed – Major General Jasper Jeffers.

The last remaining deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, must be returned to Israel. From my sources, Hamas, with the assistance of the ICRC, is seriously searching for the last deceased Israeli hostage in Gaza. With the deployment of the ISF, Israel will be required to redeploy its forces, eventually behind the Israeli border. The Rafah crossing will soon open in both directions with the EU – EUBAM organization monitoring the crossing on the Gaza side of the crossing.

It seems that most of the humanitarian aid will be managed by private sector elements. The reconstruction of Gaza will soon begin, while more secure temporary housing will be provided for the more than one million Gazans living in tents and partially demolished, bombed-out buildings.

The official White House statement talks about the full Trump 20-point plan that keeps the process locked into the two-state solution and the establishment of Palestinian self-determination at its core. The Board of Peace will definitely also oversee the rebuilding of the Gaza educational system – that is a good thing. Hopefully, this will impact the educational system in the West Bank as well, which has to propel educational reform in Israel.

Municipal elections will be held in the West Bank in April 2026. Palestinian national elections and Israeli national elections will be held in 2026. This is the year for change. The developments that led to the end of the Gaza war are unprecedented in Israeli-Palestinian-International diplomacy. There has never been a better chance for the people of Israel and Palestine to move towards real peace. I know that Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Kushner, and Sir Tony Blair are extremely dedicated to moving this process forward successfully. I have full confidence in their dedication and in their abilities.

Those of us who can influence the process must keep the decision makers on the Board of Peace and the Executive Committee focused on the endgame of the two-state solution. There are many challenges ahead, and no doubt the unexpected will happen, but we have a clear path forward. Too many of us are cynical and criticize what is happening. That is not constructive. This is the time to support this process and to contribute to bringing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a peaceful end.