Netanyahu stated that the composition of the committee on Gaza was not coordinated with Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu
In a statement from the Israeli government, it is emphasized that the new administrative body for managing Gaza, created at the initiative of the United States, does not have the consent of the Israeli authorities and does not align with the official policy of the country. This message was made in the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and published on January 17 on the social network X.

According to The Times of Israel, the reason for such a statement was the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the structure outlined in the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump for the Gaza Strip. Previously, Fidan had repeatedly criticized Israel for its actions in Gaza.

Recently, the White House announced the establishment of an international "Peace Council" for Gaza, headed by Donald Trump himself. The council includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, presidential special envoy Stephen Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, businessman Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel.

Additionally, the White House announced the creation of an Executive Council to implement the concept of the "Peace Council." A significant role in this council will be played by Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov, who will connect the "Peace Council" with the National Committee for the Management of the Gaza Strip (NCAG), also outlined in Trump's plan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will also be a member of the Executive Council. It also includes Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, Mark Rowan, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Tawadi, Cypriot-Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay, and UAE Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy.

The National Committee for the Management of the Gaza Strip, as stated by the White House, will be headed by Ali Shaas, who previously held high positions in the Palestinian National Authority. This committee will focus on restoring civil institutions and improving daily life in Gaza.

According to information provided by Axios from a high-ranking anonymous U.S. official, the "Peace Council" is an initiative of Washington and is being created without coordination with Netanyahu.

“This project is our business, not his. We have succeeded in Gaza over the past few months, and we will not stop,” noted the source of the publication.

He also added that the White House did not consult with the Prime Minister of Israel, as he has “no say” in this matter.

The conflict in the Middle East escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel. According to Israeli authorities, approximately 1,200 people were killed in the attack, and about 250 were taken hostage and transported to the Gaza Strip.

In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and began military operations. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, approximately 71,000 people have died as a result of the hostilities in Gaza, and more than 169,000 have been injured. However, the organization does not specify how many of the deceased were militants.

In October 2025, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and approved a peace plan from the Trump administration. The guarantors of these agreements became the U.S., Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt. In mid-January, the White House announced the start of the second phase of the plan, which included the creation of the "Peace Council" and the National Committee for the Management of Gaza.