Israeli minister rejects Trump's peace board, urges Gaza occupation

A senior Israeli minister has launched a sharp attack against US President Donald Trump's proposed "Board of Peace," advocating instead for a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of resigning from the coalition government.

Strock's Critique and Call for Occupation

In a radio interview on Sunday, Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock denounced the recently chartered international board as a "flawed initiative." "We are not supposed to endanger our soldiers for this bad plan, and I may have to leave the government," she stated. She argued that Israel should re-enter and occupy Gaza, questioning to whom authority would subsequently be transferred. Referencing Israel's 2005 withdrawal, she said, "To the Palestinian Authority? We did that in 2005 and saw the result."

Contradiction with Ceasefire Terms and Internal Tensions

Strock's hardline position directly contradicts key provisions of the ongoing ceasefire, which includes steps toward the disarmament of Hamas and an eventual Israeli military withdrawal to facilitate reconstruction. Hamas has rejected surrendering its weapons. Strock insisted that "Israel should remain the sole authority in Gaza" after disarming the territory. Her comments expose significant fissures within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government regarding the post-conflict governance of the Palestinian enclave.

Context of the 'Board of Peace'

Trump formally established the "Board of Peace" on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The board, later authorized by a UN Security Council resolution, is described as an organization seeking to promote stability in conflict zones. However, its charter grants Trump extensive lifelong powers, leading to criticism that it aims to circumvent traditional UN mechanisms. The board's formation follows a conflict that has resulted in massive casualties and devastation in Gaza, where dire humanitarian conditions persist despite the ceasefire.