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Israeli Minister Rejects Trump’s Board of Peace
Israeli Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock criticized US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” on Sunday. She called it a “bad plan” and urged Israel to occupy Gaza.
Speaking to the settler radio station Galey Israel, Strock said Israeli soldiers should not be risked for “a flawed initiative.” Also, she warned she might resign from the government if the plan moves forward.
Her comments came days after Trump signed the Board of Peace founding charter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Concerns About Gaza Governance
Strock questioned who would govern Gaza if Israeli forces re-entered. Meanwhile, she warned that occupation would be costly.
“Let’s assume the Israeli army enters Gaza. To whom would we hand it over? To the Palestinian Authority? We did that in 2005 and saw the result,” she said.
She suggested Israel should remain the sole authority in Gaza after disarming the territory and defeating Hamas.
Ceasefire and Security Cabinet Concerns
The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, effective October 10, calls for Hamas disarmament, additional Israeli withdrawals, and reconstruction efforts.
However, Strock expressed doubt that the Security Cabinet would approve sending soldiers to Gaza only to later hand control to Palestinian authorities.
“Until I see the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) rein in this direction, I may eventually have to say, ‘Enough,’” she said.
Trump’s Board of Peace
Trump announced the Board of Peace on January 15 as part of his broader Gaza plan. The board was authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025.
Trump chairs the board, which includes members with experience in diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy.
In addition, although the board aims to “promote stability, restore governance, and secure lasting peace,” it does not specifically mention Gaza. The enclave is home to 2.4 million people, including 1.5 million displaced, living in dire conditions.
Gaza Casualties and Ongoing Violence
Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed over 71,600 people, mostly women and children, and injured about 171,300 during military operations in Gaza.
Also, despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued attacks, killing 484 Palestinians and wounding 1,321, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
