US President Donald Trump, as chairman of the “Peace Council“, will have broad powers, including appointing senior officials to manage the Gaza Strip, assigning them responsibilities, approving resolutions and suspending them in emergencies.
He will also be able to appoint his successor, The New York Times reports, citing a copy of the draft resolution.
The document is dated January 22, but has not yet been signed by Trump, which would mean it is ready to enter into force, three officials familiar with the resolution told The New York Times and confirmed the authenticity of a copy the newspaper has.
It is not clear whether this document represents the final version of the resolution, the newspaper notes. His interlocutors said the document was still under discussion.
Among the officials Trump could appoint are a “high representative“ for the Gaza Strip, who would be tasked with overseeing the Palestinian Authority, which governs the territory, and a commander of the international stabilization force, tasked with helping to provide security. Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov has been named high representative for Gaza.
According to The New York Times, the document resembles a UN Security Council resolution and appears to be an attempt by a “Peace Council” to formalize some of the plans for the Gaza Strip.
According to this draft, the executive council, in addition to the individuals already announced on January 16, will also include White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and real estate lawyer Martin Edelman, whom Bloomberg called a friend of Trump and a key figure in his administration's dealings with the UAE.
According to the draft resolution, the “Peace Council“ will coordinate the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid there. The document also stipulates that individuals and organizations “with a proven history of cooperation, infiltration or influence“ with Hamas will not participate in the management or reconstruction of the enclave.
The draft resolution details the role of Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN envoy for the Middle East peace process who was appointed by the White House as the first high representative for Gaza. According to the resolution, Mladenov will head the National Committee for the Management of Gaza, a body of Palestinian technocrats appointed to govern the territory and oversee the police force, as well as to direct all of its “day-to-day activities.”
Former U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem Michael Ratney told The New York Times that the document “makes it clear that the United States is responsible for Gaza, with all other countries and organizations playing a supporting role.”
Trump announced the creation of the “Peace Council” on Jan. 16. The body was originally supposed to focus on rebuilding the Gaza Strip, but it turned out to be an international organization whose mandate could extend to other conflict zones.
Membership in the Peace Council is limited to three years, but after paying a $1 billion fee, it becomes permanent.