Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Israel’s government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza.
The rare criticism from Israel of its close ally in Washington says the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details.
Saturday’s (January 17, 2026) statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the foreign ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The committee announced by the White House on Friday (January 16) includes no Israeli official but has an Israeli businessman, billionaire Yakir Gabay. Other members announced so far include two of U.S. President Donald Trump’s closest confidants, a former British Prime Minister, an American general and a collection of top officials from Middle Eastern governments.
The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named.
The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gaza’s day to day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee.
The committee’s members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Mr. Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.
Committee members also include a diplomat from Qatar and an intelligence chief from Egypt — both countries have been ceasefire mediators — as well as a Cabinet Minister for the United Arab Emirates and Turkiye’s Foreign Minister.
Minutes after the statement from Mr. Netanyahu’s office, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in a statement backed the Prime Minister and urged him to order the military to prepare to return to war.
The Trump administration earlier in the week said the U.S.-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
The ceasefire took effect on October 10, with the first phase focusing on the return of all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, along with a surge in humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gaza’s second-largest militant group after Hamas, in a statement also expressed dissatisfaction with the makeup of the executive committee and claimed it reflected Israeli “specifications.”
Published – January 18, 2026 04:51 am IST
