As the second phase of the Gaza Strip peace plan begins, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that he has agreed “in principle” to join a new U.S.-led governing body aimed at overseeing the territory’s transition and reconstruction.
Speaking to reporters during an official visit to Doha on Jan. 18, Carney said the proposal was first raised by U.S. President Donald Trump several weeks ago. “The president raised it with me a few weeks ago,” Carney said. “I said, in principle, yes.”
The White House announced on Jan. 16 the formation of the executive founding members of the newly created Board of Peace, a body chaired by President Trump. The board is intended to provide strategic guidance, mobilize international financial resources, and ensure accountability during Gaza’s post-conflict transition and rebuilding.
Among the founding executive members named by the White House are U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
During the Doha press conference, Carney was asked why he agreed to join the board and whether Canada would be prepared to pay a reported $1 billion participation fee. While official terms of participation have not been publicly released, a U.S. official told The Associated Press that a $1 billion contribution would secure permanent membership on the board, while a three-year membership would not require a financial contribution. Any funds raised would be directed toward Gaza’s reconstruction.
Carney did not confirm whether Canada would make the $1 billion contribution, saying only that any financial commitment must deliver the “maximum impact.” He emphasized that Canada has a responsibility to help alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza, contribute to regional stability, and work toward a lasting peace and a two-state solution.
“We have to make every effort possible to alleviate suffering in the Gaza Strip,” Carney said, adding that his decision to accept the role was “consistent” with Canada’s broader foreign policy objectives.
He also noted that many details of the board’s structure and financing remain unresolved. “We haven’t gone through all the details of the structure, how it’s going to work, what financing is for, etc. And so we will work through those in the coming days,” he said.
Several global leaders have reportedly been invited to join the Board of Peace, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, neither of whom has confirmed participation. Other countries, including Argentina, Hungary, Vietnam, and Belarus, have already agreed to take part.
Alongside the Board of Peace, the White House also announced the creation of a Gaza Executive Board, which will work more directly on governance and implementation. Its members include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, and several regional figures, such as Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan, senior Qatari official Ali Al-Thawadi, and Egyptian intelligence chief General Hassan Rashad.
Israel has raised objections to the composition of the Gaza Board, noting that it includes Cypriot-Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay but no official Israeli representatives.
The Board of Peace will oversee the newly established National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which is expected to manage day-to-day governance, public services, and civil institutions in the territory.
Gaza has been under Hamas control since 2007. The militant group launched attacks inside Israel in October 2023, prompting a large-scale Israeli military response aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of kidnapped Israeli citizens.
Hamas agreed to most elements of Trump’s 20-point peace plan last fall, including the return of Israeli hostages and the transfer of power to a transitional technocratic authority. However, the group has not agreed to fully disarm, a key condition of the plan. In December, Hamas said it would hand over its weapons to a Palestinian authority only if Israel fully withdraws from Gaza. Parts of the territory remain under Israeli control.
Hamas has also said it would accept the deployment of a United Nations force to monitor borders and uphold the ceasefire. Trump’s plan, however, calls instead for a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF), which has received backing from the U.N. Security Council.
On Jan. 16, the White House announced that U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, currently commander of Special Operations Command Central, has been appointed to lead the ISF. Details regarding the force’s composition and deployment timeline have yet to be released.
The ISF would be tasked with maintaining security and overseeing the demilitarization of Gaza, a mission that could face resistance from local armed groups and pose significant operational challenges in the months ahead.
