Netanyahu Blocks Herzog From Joining Trump’s Gaza 'Board of Peace' Launch in Davos
At the Davos launch of President Trump’s new “Board of Peace” to oversee the next phase of the Gaza plan, the White House invited Israel and asked President Isaac Herzog to represent the country on stage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally refused the request—insisting the invitation was addressed to him—and blocked Herzog’s participation after tense calls with U.S. officials; Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff chose not to escalate and instead flew to Israel to press Netanyahu on opening the Rafah crossing.
📌 Key Facts
- At the World Economic Forum in Davos President Trump formally unveiled and inaugurated a U.S.-led 'Board of Peace' to supervise phase two of his 20‑point Gaza plan; Trump will chair the Board and a signing ceremony was held.
- The Board is intended to provide strategic oversight for phase two — including Gaza demilitarization, an International Stabilization Force (ISF), a U.S.-backed technocratic Palestinian committee to run Gaza, and reconstruction — and the U.N. Security Council has endorsed the 20‑point plan.
- The White House named a small executive board (including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga and Robert Gabriel) and a Gaza Executive Board with Nickolay Mladenov as the Board’s day‑to‑day representative; the Palestinian technocratic committee is led by Gaza‑born Ali Shaath.
- A draft charter and White House guidance set a pay‑to‑play model for membership — reporting that a $1 billion contribution secures a permanent seat while shorter terms require no fee — and the charter’s language expanding the Board’s remit beyond Gaza drew criticism that it could rival or undermine the U.N.
- Dozens of countries were invited and many accepted or were reported as joining (including Morocco, Hungary, Vietnam, Argentina, Belarus, the UAE and others), while a number of Western states — notably France, Norway and Sweden — expressed reservations or declined to sign.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted an invitation to join the Board but personally refused a White House request to have President Isaac Herzog represent Israel, insisting the invitation was to him and effectively vetoing Herzog’s attendance; U.S. and Israeli officials held multiple 'tense and difficult' calls in the days before Davos over the dispute.
- Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff declined to escalate the Herzog attendance fight at Davos and instead flew to Israel to press Netanyahu on implementation issues — notably opening the Rafah crossing — as U.S. envoys focused leverage elsewhere.
- Phase‑two implementation remains fragile: it hinges on Hamas disarmament and the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage (Ran Gvili), while aid deliveries into Gaza have fallen short of agreed targets and violence and civilian deaths have continued despite the ceasefire and the Board’s launch.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (3)
Notes From Israel
"An on‑the‑ground critical take arguing that the U.N./U.S. plan to move to a 'phase two' Gaza ceasefire — with an international stabilization force and Trump‑led oversight board — is premature, faces steep political and operational hurdles (notably hostage returns, ISF composition and Hamas disarmament), and risks becoming symbolic unless core conditions are resolved."
Big Man Syndrome
"A skeptical critique arguing that the Davos 'Board of Peace' is an ego‑driven, donor‑dominated project — a classic 'big man' approach — that replaces legitimate Palestinian governance with pay‑to‑play technocratic control and is unlikely to succeed or be just."
Slightly Against The "Other People's Money" Argument Against Aid
"A nuanced critique of the populist 'other people's money' objection to foreign aid (likely aimed at debates over the Davos Gaza reconstruction/Board of Peace plan), arguing the slogan is rhetorically effective but logically weak and that aid decisions should rest on effectiveness, mutual interest and democratic accountability rather than reflexive refusal."
📰 Source Timeline (69)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 24, 2026
7:53 PM
Netanyahu rejects White House request for Israel president at Board of Peace ceremony
New information:
- White House invited 58 countries, including Israel, to the Board of Peace launch and publicly listed Israel among 21 expected participants.
- Netanyahu personally refused a White House request to have President Isaac Herzog represent Israel, sit on stage, and sign the Board of Peace charter at the Davos ceremony.
- Sources describe multiple 'tense and difficult' calls between senior White House officials and Netanyahu’s team in the two days before the event, with Netanyahu insisting the invitation was addressed to him and effectively vetoing Herzog’s participation.
- Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff decided not to escalate further over Herzog’s attendance, choosing instead to focus their leverage on pressuring Netanyahu to open the Rafah crossing; they flew to Israel Saturday night for a meeting on that issue.
January 23, 2026
6:23 PM
Carney fires back at Trump after Davos speech
New information:
- Carney’s explicit quote rebutting Trump: 'Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.'
- Carney’s fuller framing that Canada is 'master in our home' and that its future and choices are its own, while still calling the bilateral relationship a 'remarkable partnership.'
- Carney’s post‑Davos message in Quebec City casting Canada as a beacon of pluralism against global authoritarianism and saying Canada can show the world 'the arc of history' can still bend toward 'progress and justice.'
- Trump’s Davos claim that Canada gets 'many freebies' from the U.S. and 'should be grateful,' and that Carney’s Davos speech showed he 'wasn’t so grateful.'
- Reiteration that Trump linked Canadian interest in his 'Golden Dome' missile‑defense system to his criticism of Carney, saying Canada wants to participate in the program he touts as operational by 2029.
3:33 PM
Trump withdraws Canada's "Board of Peace" offer after Carney's Davos address
New information:
- CBS reports that Trump has now publicly announced that Canada’s invitation to join his 'Board of Peace' has been withdrawn, framing it as an open feud with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
- The segment characterizes the dispute as a continuing, personalized clash at Davos between Trump and Carney rather than a one-off exchange.
- Natalie Brand’s report reinforces that Trump is presenting the withdrawal as a response to Carney’s Davos address, tying the diplomatic snub directly to Carney’s public criticism.
3:19 PM
Canadian PM Carney fires back at Trump over claim that 'Canada lives because of the United States'
New information:
- Carney, speaking at a cabinet retreat on the Plains of Abraham in Québec, directly rejected Trump’s Davos remark that 'Canada lives because of the United States.'
- Carney said, 'Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian. We are masters in our own house. This is our country. This is our future. The choice is ours.'
- Fox reiterates that Trump’s Truth Social letter formally rescinded Canada’s invitation to join the Gaza 'Board of Peace' and that the board was inaugurated in Davos while Carney was already en route home.
- The article fleshes out the Davos back‑and‑forth: Carney’s earlier speech criticizing the fading 'rules‑based order' and urging middle powers to build a new order, and Trump’s Davos response that Canada gets 'a lot of freebies' and 'should be grateful.'
2:17 PM
Trump escalates Carney feud after Davos dust-up
New information:
- Axios details the precise Davos sequence: Carney’s 'rupture' speech criticizing the U.S.-led order, Trump’s reply that 'Canada lives because of the United States,' and Carney’s rebuttal that 'Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.'
- The piece frames the rescinding of Canada’s Board of Peace invitation explicitly as a retaliation to Carney’s Davos remarks, not just to his earlier criticism of Trump’s Gaza plan and tariff threats.
- Axios notes that Canada has been diversifying trade away from the U.S. in response to Trump’s tariff posture and reminds that Carney ran and governs on an explicitly anti‑Trump mandate, deepening the sense of a structural—not just personal—rift.
- It adds that France’s Macron has reportedly rejected Board participation and that several NATO allies have declined or not accepted invites, putting Canada’s exclusion in the context of broader allied skepticism toward the Board of Peace.
2:12 PM
Trump signals rift with Canada's Mark Carney after tense address in Davos
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that Trump himself publicly framed the move as Canada’s invitation being withdrawn because of Carney’s Davos speech.
- Confirms the sequence: Trump’s Davos address, Carney’s critical speech, then Trump’s public statement rescinding the invitation.
- Adds on‑camera attribution that the withdrawal was explicitly announced at Davos, reinforcing this as a live diplomatic rift, not a private or second‑hand report.
4:01 AM
Trump snubs Canada by withdrawing country's invite to join 'most prestigious Board of Leaders ever'
New information:
- Publishes verbatim the opening of Trump’s Truth Social letter to Mark Carney rescinding Canada’s Board of Peace invitation.
- Details Trump’s Davos remarks that 'Canada lives because of the United States' and that Carney 'wasn’t so grateful,' directly tying the snub to Carney’s speech.
- Summarizes Carney’s Davos comments warning that great powers are using economic and security leverage to coerce allies and urging 'middle powers' like Canada to pursue diversification and sovereignty‑focused strategies.
- Lists specific invitees to the Board of Peace (Russia, Belarus, France, Germany, Vietnam, Finland, Ukraine, Ireland, Greece, Israel, China) and notes Trump will chair the board alongside figures such as Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Marc Rowan.
3:26 AM
Trump says Board of Peace is withdrawing its invite to Canada
New information:
- Trump posted on Truth Social that the Board of Peace is 'withdrawing its invitation' for Canada to join, telling Prime Minister Mark Carney the body will be 'the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time.'
- Canada’s Mark Carney had previously said he agreed 'in principle' to join but demanded 'unimpeded aid flows' to Gaza and ruled out paying a $1 billion fee for a permanent board seat.
- Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne reiterated that 'Canada is not going to pay if we were to join the Board of Peace,' after a U.S. official said countries could contribute $1 billion for permanent membership.
- The disinvite comes days after Carney’s Davos speech warning of a global 'rupture' from tariffs and the abandonment of rules, widely read as criticizing Trump, and Trump’s rejoinder that 'Canada lives because of the United States.'
- Carney responded Thursday that 'Canada doesn't live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.'
1:29 AM
People in Gaza dig through garbage for fuel to keep warm, in a far cry from Trump's vision
New information:
- Palestinians in the Muwasi area near Khan Younis are digging through garbage dumps for plastic to burn for heat and cooking because fuel and firewood remain scarce and unaffordable months into the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
- Gaza residents quoted in the article express skepticism that Trump’s Davos‑launched 'Board of Peace' — which includes Israelis — will end their misery, with one displaced man saying, "The Israelis that inflicted suffering upon us," now sit on the committee.
- Local hospital officials report Israeli forces shot and killed two 13‑year‑old boys on Wednesday as they tried to collect firewood, and Shifa Hospital’s director says Israeli tank shelling on Thursday killed four Palestinians east of Gaza City despite the ceasefire.
- UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says humanitarian partners can currently support only about 40% of the roughly 970 displacement sites in Gaza due to capacity and funding constraints, even as Trump claims 'record levels' of aid are entering the territory.
January 22, 2026
11:31 AM
Trump and world leaders sign Gaza Board of Peace charter
New information:
- Confirms that President Trump has now officially unveiled and inaugurated the Board of Peace during a speech and signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- States that 'world leaders' have signed on to the Gaza Board of Peace charter at that ceremony (though without listing specific countries).
- Provides Trump’s new formulation that 'once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do. And we'll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,' and his framing that 'this isn’t the United States, this is for the world' and could be expanded 'to other things' beyond Gaza.
9:25 AM
Trump to unveil Board of Peace at World Economic Forum in Davos
New information:
- Trump will unveil the Board of Peace charter at a 10:30 a.m. local (4:30 a.m. ET) event at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos.
- The Board of Peace’s executive committee is detailed: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, and World Bank President Ajay Banga, among others, with Trump as chair.
- A U.S. official confirms countries can contribute $1 billion to become permanent members instead of three‑year members, stressing contributions are optional and that "virtually every dollar" will go to Gaza’s reconstruction rather than salaries or bureaucracy.
- CBS reports more than 50 countries were invited and 20–25 have agreed to join, with a public list including Israel, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Morocco, Hungary, Belarus, Canada, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Kosovo; Trump says Vladimir Putin has accepted.
- The White House characterizes the Board of Peace as providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability during Gaza’s transition "from conflict to peace and development."
1:25 AM
Trump's Board of Peace poses latest in a series of US challenges to the United Nations
New information:
- The article reports that the U.N. Security Council in November formally authorized the Board of Peace to serve as a transitional body overseeing a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Gaza war.
- Trump is now publicly describing the Board of Peace as a mediator for other global conflicts, positioning it as a potential rival or alternative forum to the U.N. Security Council rather than a one-off Gaza mechanism.
- Trump stated he 'never went' to the U.N. to settle the wars he claims to have resolved and 'never even thought to go to them,' while still saying the U.N. should 'continue' because its potential is 'so great.'
- Former U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood and unnamed U.N. officials are quoted expressing skepticism that member states would support the Board of Peace as a substitute for the Security Council and stressing that decades of multilateral peacebuilding cannot easily be replaced.
- The piece situates the Board of Peace within a broader pattern: the U.S. refusal to pay mandatory U.N. dues last year, Trump’s drive to strip billions from U.N. agencies, and the U.N.’s own cost‑cutting reforms and relocation of staff to retain some U.S. backing.
January 21, 2026
7:24 PM
What to know about Trump's "Board of Peace"
New information:
- Confirms President Trump will formally chair the Board of Peace and can hold that role until he resigns from it.
- Details the full 'founding Executive Board' membership: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, financier Marc Rowan, World Bank Group president Ajay Banga, and national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
- Details a separate 'Gaza Executive Board' and its membership, including Witkoff, Kushner, Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan, Qatar official Ali Al‑Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Hassan Rashad, Blair, Rowan, UAE minister Reem Al‑Hashimy, Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay and former Dutch deputy PM/UN envoy Sigrid Kaag.
- Names Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers tasked with leading the Board’s day‑to‑day operations.
- Reports that more than 50 countries have been invited to join the Board of Peace as of Jan. 21 and that Belarus has accepted, while Russia has been formally invited and President Trump says he has sent an invitation to Vladimir Putin.
4:03 PM
Divisions emerge among western European nations over Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza
New information:
- France has explicitly said it will not join Trump's Board of Peace, warning the body could seek to replace the United Nations as the main venue for resolving conflicts, even while Paris says it supports the underlying Gaza peace plan.
- Norway has declined its invitation, with State Secretary Kristoffer Thoner saying the Board raises "a number of questions" and that Oslo will not attend the signing ceremony in Davos.
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden will not sign onto the Board "as the text currently stands," signaling at least a provisional refusal while Stockholm has yet to formally respond in writing.
- A White House official, speaking anonymously, says about 50 countries have been invited and roughly 30 are expected to join the Board.
- The piece reiterates that Trump has expanded the concept from a small group overseeing Gaza’s ceasefire into a sprawling conflict‑mediation body chaired by him, heightening European concern it is designed to sideline the UN.
8:35 AM
Netanyahu agrees to join Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace after initial pushback
New information:
- Fox piece explicitly describes Netanyahu’s public shift: he will join the Board of Peace after earlier pushing back over the inclusion of Turkey’s Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al‑Thawadi on a separate 'Gaza Executive Board'.
- It clarifies that Netanyahu’s office publicly criticized that Gaza Executive Board as not coordinated with Israel and contrary to Israeli policy before his reversal on the main Board of Peace.
- The article quotes Trump saying the Board of Peace 'might' replace the United Nations, adding that the U.N. has 'never lived up to its potential' but should continue to exist.
- It details that the Board of Peace will 'supervise the next phase' of the Gaza peace plan and repeats that the White House frames it as essential to carrying out all 20 points of Trump’s Gaza plan.
- It lists more specific invitees (Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary, Vietnam) and notes that Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the EU executive have invitations, with Russia 'studying the details' and France declining 'at this stage'.
- It reconfirms that Trump will chair the Board and names senior U.S. political and business figures involved (Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Marc Rowan).
7:05 AM
Israel's Netanyahu agrees to join Trump's Board of Peace
New information:
- Netanyahu’s office says the Israeli prime minister has formally accepted Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace after earlier criticizing the executive committee’s composition, including Turkey.
- A draft charter obtained by the Associated Press shows that permanent Board of Peace membership requires a $1 billion contribution and concentrates much of the body’s power in Trump’s hands.
- At least eight countries — Israel, the UAE, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Argentina and Belarus — have agreed to take part so far, with invitations also sent to leaders of Paraguay, Canada, Egypt, Turkey and to entities including Russia and the EU’s executive arm.
- The article gives a fuller list of the Board of Peace executive board: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, Apollo CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
- It separately details the new Gaza Executive Board charged with implementing phase two of the ceasefire — listing its members and naming former UN Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov as day‑to‑day representative — and says it will oversee an international security force, Hamas disarmament, reconstruction and a Palestinian technocrat committee running Gaza’s daily affairs.
January 20, 2026
10:36 PM
Trump floats ‘Board of Peace’ to replace UN, signals major global power shift
New information:
- Trump was asked directly at a White House press conference whether he envisions the Board of Peace supplanting the UN and replied, "It might," while still saying the UN should continue to exist.
- Trump criticized the UN as having "never lived up to its potential" and claimed, "The UN should have settled every one of the wars that I settled."
- Analyst Kobi Michael framed the Board as part of a 'revisionist' shift away from liberal international institutions toward raw power and interests, saying 'the EU is much less important' in this emerging order.
- Fox confirms the White House’s Jan. 16 statement that the Board will oversee all 20 points of Trump’s Gaza plan, emphasizing its scope well beyond Gaza and tying it to a broader reordering of the international system.
- The article recaps that 'dozens' of countries were invited to a Davos signing and lists a range of invitees including Russia, Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary and Vietnam.
6:51 PM
Russia's Lavrov says 'we are watching' as NATO faces crisis over Trump and Greenland
New information:
- Lavrov says the Kremlin is studying Trump’s invitation for Russia to join the Gaza 'Board of Peace' and is waiting for more details from Washington.
- He frames the Board of Peace as reflecting U.S. recognition that it must 'rally a group of nations' even with its current foreign‑policy philosophy, implying Moscow sees it as an attempt to build a U.S.‑centric alternative to the UN.
4:57 PM
More than 10 countries have signed on to Trump's "Board of Peace," sources say
New information:
- Sources tell CBS that more than 10 countries have signed on to Trump’s Gaza 'Board of Peace,' though only five — UAE, Belarus, Morocco, Hungary and Canada — have publicly accepted.
- The White House confirms countries can pay $1 billion to become permanent members instead of serving three‑year terms, while some states may contribute far less, possibly around $20 million; Canada has said it will not pay.
- A White House official says 'virtually every dollar' raised will be spent on the board’s Gaza mandate, with separate fundraising for Gaza reconstruction.
- Trump wants a formal signing ceremony for the board at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday and is weighing whether to extend the board’s work beyond Gaza, potentially as a rival to the United Nations.
- Russia has been invited to join the board despite its continued assault on Ukraine, even as the administration cites Moscow as a national‑security threat to justify a push to acquire Greenland.
- On Monday night, Trump threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne if France does not join the board; French officials currently do not intend to respond favorably, according to a source.
4:25 PM
Trump's Gaza board of peace: Here's what to know
New information:
- French President Emmanuel Macron has explicitly rejected Trump’s invitation to join the Gaza Board of Peace, with his office citing concerns that the body’s charter goes beyond Gaza and raises issues about respect for UN principles and structures.
- Trump responded by threatening a '200%' tariff on French wines and champagne and claiming 'nobody wants' Macron because 'he’s going to be out of office very soon.'
- Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee warned the U.S. framework 'would have a mandate wider than the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan' and stressed the UN’s unique role in maintaining international peace and security.
- Axios confirms Trump is expected to announce at Davos that he is expanding the Board of Peace’s mission beyond Gaza, heightening concerns among European allies.
- The article names additional invited or self-identified invitee countries — including India, Ireland, China, Hungary, Vietnam, Australia, Argentina, Jordan, Albania, Israel, the UAE and Canada — and notes Trump has confirmed he invited Vladimir Putin and Russia.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly signaled caution, saying Poland will be guided solely by its own security and that accession to such a body would require executive and parliamentary approval, while Hungary’s Viktor Orbán quickly accepted.
- Axios reiterates that the UN Security Council resolution endowing the Board describes it as a 'transitional administration with international legal personality' to coordinate Gaza’s redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority completes reforms, and notes the Board is authorized through 2027.
4:01 PM
Trump seeks Davos signing ceremony for Gaza Board of Peace
New information:
- At Trump’s direction, the White House is organizing a formal signing ceremony for the Gaza Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and has begun sending founding‑member invitations.
- Countries invited include Russia, Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary and Vietnam, among others, though it remains unclear how many will sign at Davos.
- Bloomberg‑cited details, repeated here, stress that participation entails a substantial financial commitment, with a $1 billion permanent membership fee prompting European allies to coordinate a joint response and seek changes.
- Trump publicly responded to French President Emmanuel Macron’s reported reluctance by saying he could impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes to pressure France to join, though he added France "doesn’t have to" participate.
- The White House confirmed that Trump will personally chair the Board of Peace, joined by Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff and billionaire Marc Rowan.
- The article reiterates that Netanyahu’s office has formally objected to the naming of Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al‑Thawadi to a separate Gaza Executive Board, saying the move was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.
11:01 AM
Trump's Board of Peace has several invited leaders trying to figure out how it'll work
New information:
- Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has accepted a seat on Trump’s Board of Peace, becoming the first Arab leader and at least the fifth world leader to join.
- Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary and Argentina have also accepted invitations to the Board of Peace.
- Russia, Belarus, Slovenia, Thailand and the European Commission have now received invitations; the Kremlin says it is 'studying the details' and seeking clarity on 'all the nuances.'
- A French official says France 'does not plan to join at this stage' and is concerned about respect for UN principles and structures; the official confirmation that France is holding off goes beyond Macron’s earlier reluctance.
- An Israeli official confirms Israel has been invited but says it is unknown whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted; Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly calls the Board of Peace a bad deal and urges scrapping Trump’s Gaza plan in favor of Israeli military administration of Gaza.
- The article underscores that the Board’s mandate and decision‑making processes are unclear, and that Trump’s invitation letter pitches it as a body to 'embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict,' suggesting a rival or alternative to the UN Security Council.
9:22 AM
Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs on Wine if France Declines to Join Gaza Board of Peace
New information:
- Confirms that a senior French official said France does not intend to join Trump’s proposed Gaza 'Board of Peace,' citing concerns that its charter raises serious questions about respecting the U.N.’s role.
- Reports Trump’s explicit linkage of a threatened 200% tariff on French wine, including Champagne, to what he characterizes as a 'hostile stance' by France toward the Board and his expectation that economic pressure will push Macron to join.
- Reinforces the pattern that Trump is using tariff threats as leverage in unrelated foreign‑policy disputes, paralleling his demand for a deal to buy Greenland backed by 10–25% tariff threats on multiple European allies.
7:40 AM
Trump confirms he invited Putin to join his Board of Peace: 'He's been invited'
New information:
- Trump publicly confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace overseeing the next phase of the Gaza plan, saying, 'Yeah, he’s been invited.'
- The Kremlin acknowledged receiving the invitation and said it is 'studying the details' and will seek clarity on 'all the nuances' in communications with Washington.
- A French official close to President Emmanuel Macron said France has received an invitation but 'does not plan to join... at this stage,' citing concerns about UN principles and structure.
- Trump responded by mocking Macron, predicting he will soon be out of office, and threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes to pressure France to join.
- Additional invited and/or accepting countries now specified include Israel, Canada, Belarus, Slovenia, Thailand, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary and Argentina.
January 19, 2026
7:41 PM
$1 billion contribution secures permanent seat on Trump's 'Board of Peace'
New information:
- A U.S. official confirms the Board of Peace charter sets a $1 billion contribution as the price of a permanent seat; three‑year appointments have no contribution requirement.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam have accepted invitations to join the Board of Peace.
- Additional countries publicly confirming invitations include Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan; India and Australia acknowledge invitations but have not yet publicly accepted.
- The U.S. plans to announce the official membership list in the coming days, likely timed to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- The article reiterates that the Security Council has endorsed the U.S. 20‑point Gaza ceasefire plan that includes creating the Board, while Israel has objected that the Board’s executive committee was not coordinated with it and is contrary to its policy.
6:13 PM
Trump invites Putin, Lukashenko to join Gaza 'Board of Peace,' Russia and Belarus say
New information:
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov publicly confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation via diplomatic channels to join Trump’s Gaza 'Board of Peace' and said Russia is 'studying all the details' and will seek clarification from the U.S.
- Belarus’ Foreign Ministry confirmed President Trump sent Alexander Lukashenko a letter inviting Belarus to be a founding member and said Minsk is ready to participate, hoping the Board’s authority will expand beyond its initial mandate.
- Fox lists additional invited states — Argentina, Jordan, Canada, India, Egypt, Hungary and Vietnam — saying they announced receiving invitations over the weekend.
- The White House Friday statement, quoted here, describes the Board’s role as overseeing 'all 20 points' of Trump’s Gaza plan, providing 'strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability.'
- The article specifies Trump will personally chair the Board, joined by Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and billionaire Marc Rowan, among others.
- Citing the Wall Street Journal, Fox reports the Board’s draft charter would require countries seeking a permanent seat to pay a $1 billion fee.
- Israel’s government reiterates via Netanyahu’s office that the composition of a related 'Gaza Executive Board' — including Turkey’s foreign minister and a Qatari diplomat — 'was not coordinated with Israel' and 'runs contrary to its policy.'
4:14 PM
Trump's Board of Peace has asked the EU, Russia, Belarus and Thailand to join Gaza peace plan initiative
New information:
- The European Commission confirms President Ursula von der Leyen has received an invitation to join Trump’s Board of Peace and will consult other EU leaders on Gaza before responding.
- The Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin has been formally invited, is 'studying the details,' and will seek clarification on 'all the nuances' in talks with the U.S.
- Belarus’ foreign ministry says President Alexander Lukashenko has been invited and is ready to take part; Thailand’s Foreign Ministry confirms it has also been invited and is reviewing the proposal.
- Israeli far‑right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly calls the Board of Peace 'bad for the State of Israel,' urges that it be canceled, and advocates Israeli military administration over Gaza and a possible renewed full‑scale offensive if Hamas does not quickly disarm and accept exile.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says the Board’s formation was not coordinated with Israel, is 'contrary to its policy,' and notes Israel has not been invited to join even as regional rival Turkey has.
- A U.S. official tells AP that a $1 billion contribution will secure permanent Board membership, with the money earmarked to rebuild Gaza, reinforcing prior reporting about the pay‑to‑play model.
- The article reiterates the World Bank’s estimate that rebuilding Gaza will cost $53 billion, underscoring the scale of the reconstruction the Board is meant to oversee.
12:32 PM
Troops stand by to enter Minnesota. And, Trump plans for a Board of Peace
New information:
- NPR obtained a copy of the Board of Peace charter and reports that the word "Gaza" is entirely absent, indicating the document envisions a global conflict‑management body rather than a narrow Gaza reconstruction mechanism.
- According to the charter described by NPR, Trump would chair the Board, which claims power beyond Gaza and is explicitly framed in its language as a more "effective" alternative to existing international peace‑building institutions, i.e., a rival to the U.N. Security Council.
- NPR reports that Trump has asked other nations to pay at least $1 billion each for the privilege of permanent representation on the Board of Peace, turning membership into a high‑priced transactional seat.
- Critics quoted by NPR argue that the design and charter of the Board amount to an attempt to undermine the U.N. by making diplomacy overtly pay‑to‑play and subordinating multilateral peace efforts to a Trump‑chaired structure.
January 18, 2026
7:21 PM
Six countries confirm US invitations to Gaza peace board
New information:
- Associated Press‑cited confirmations that Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Pakistan, Hungary and India were invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace, on top of earlier confirmations from Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania.
- Fox piece reiterates that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al‑Thawadi are named as appointed Board of Peace members, highlighting Ankara and Doha’s formal roles.
- Reaffirms Netanyahu’s office statement that the composition of the Gaza Executive Board was not coordinated with Israel and 'runs contrary to its policy,' and that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has been instructed to convey those concerns directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Restates Trump’s plan condition that Hamas turn over all living and deceased hostages, noting that one dead hostage, Ran Gvili, has not yet been returned.
4:35 PM
More countries confirm invites to Trump's Board of Peace for rebuilding Gaza
New information:
- At least four additional countries — Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan — publicly confirm they have been invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace; Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania previously acknowledged invitations.
- A U.S. official says a $1 billion contribution secures a permanent Board of Peace seat, while a three‑year appointment carries no contribution requirement; the official claims funds would go to Gaza reconstruction.
- Trump’s invitation letters describe the Board of Peace as a body that will 'embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict,' explicitly signaling ambitions beyond Gaza and positioning it as a potential rival to the United Nations.
- The article reiterates that the U.N. Security Council has endorsed the U.S. 20‑point Gaza ceasefire plan, including the board’s creation, and notes that the official membership list is expected to be unveiled at Davos.
January 17, 2026
9:19 PM
"Gaza is our show": U.S. pushes its plan over Netanyahu's objections
New information:
- A senior U.S. official tells Axios, "This is our show, not his show" and says of Netanyahu, "We worked over him" and "He can't really go against us," framing Gaza as a U.S.-run project rather than a joint effort.
- The official confirms Netanyahu was deliberately not consulted on the Executive Board membership and asserts that if he wants the U.S. to keep handling Gaza instead of sending Israeli troops back in, he must accept the U.S. plan.
- The article details U.S. intent to launch the Trump‑chaired Gaza Board of Peace at Davos next week and spells out more of the executive board’s division of labor, with each member responsible for a defined reconstruction or governance portfolio.
- The official claims Netanyahu personally likes the content of the U.S. Gaza plan but is skeptical it will work and politically wants distance so he can later say "I told you so" if it fails.
6:31 PM
Israel objects to U.S. announcement on Gaza reconstruction committee
New information:
- Netanyahu’s office issued a formal statement saying the announced Gaza executive committee 'was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,' and directed the foreign minister to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly backed Netanyahu’s stance and urged him to order the Israeli military to prepare to return to war.
- The article confirms that no Israeli officials sit on the Gaza executive committee, though one Israeli businessman does, and reiterates some named members: Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Tony Blair, Ali Shaath, Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
- The White House has also announced a new Palestinian technocratic committee to run Gaza’s day-to-day affairs under oversight from the executive committee.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been invited by Trump to join the wider 'Board of Peace' structure and intends to accept, while Egypt and Turkey say they are reviewing invitations.
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement rejecting the executive committee’s makeup, claiming it reflected Israeli 'specifications,' highlighting that both an Israeli government and Gaza militant faction are criticizing the same U.S.-designed body.
2:29 AM
Tony Blair, Rubio, Kushner, Witkoff to help oversee Gaza reconstruction
New information:
- The White House has publicly named members of the small executive board charged with carrying out the Trump‑chaired 'Board of Peace' vision: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
- Nickolay Mladenov, former UN Middle East envoy, is designated as the executive board’s day‑to‑day representative overseeing implementation in Gaza.
- The Palestinian technocratic committee, led by Gaza‑born engineer and former PA official Ali Shaath, held its first meeting in Cairo; Shaath publicly projected a roughly three‑year reconstruction timeline and said immediate focus will be on shelter and basic needs.
- The White House also announced a separate 'Gaza Executive Board' that will work with Mladenov, the technocratic committee and an international stabilization force, adding members such as Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al‑Thawadi, Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, UAE minister Reem Al‑Hashimy, Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay and former Dutch deputy PM Sigrid Kaag.
- The article reiterates that Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of Gaza after the Oct. 10 ceasefire took effect and that thousands of displaced Palestinians are returning to heavily damaged areas as the governance and reconstruction framework is being stood up.
January 16, 2026
3:12 PM
Trump launches phase 2 of Gaza peace plan — but Hamas disarmament remains the real test
New information:
- U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff formally announced that phase two of Trump’s 20‑point Gaza peace plan is underway, describing a transition 'from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction.'
- Trump, in a Truth Social post, said the U.S. has 'OFFICIALLY entered the next phase of Gaza’s 20-Point Peace Plan,' claimed 'record levels' of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and said the plan backs a newly appointed Palestinian technocratic body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
- Trump declared himself chairman of a 'Board of Peace' overseeing the transition and warned Hamas must 'immediately' return the final deceased Israeli hostage and proceed to 'full Demilitarization,' saying it can comply 'the easy way, or the hard way.'
- French UN Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont called the ceasefire an 'incredible achievement,' endorsed phase two’s focus on a 'massive reopening of humanitarian aid' and long‑term demilitarization, and said an international stabilization force is envisioned to support reconstruction and help disarm Hamas.
January 15, 2026
11:49 PM
Netanyahu says announcement of Gaza ceasefire's next phase is only a 'declarative move'
New information:
- Netanyahu told the parents of slain Israeli police officer Ran Gvili that the Palestinian governing committee announced for phase two is merely a 'declarative move,' downplaying U.S. claims of concrete progress.
- Associated Press reports that Israeli strikes on Thursday killed nine Palestinians, including three women, despite the U.S. announcement that the fragile ceasefire is moving into its second phase.
- Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 450 Palestinians have been killed since the October ceasefire took effect, with UNICEF citing more than 100 children among the dead.
- Ali Shaath told West Bank-based Radio Basma he expects Gaza reconstruction and recovery to take roughly three years and floated using bulldozers to push rubble into the sea to create new land.
- Palestinian civilians interviewed say they see little change on the ground from 'phase two' as they remain displaced in tents and face continued bombardment and shortages of basic necessities.
8:58 PM
New Gaza governing committee meets, a step forward for fragile ceasefire
New information:
- The newly formed 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee to govern Gaza convened its first meeting in Cairo on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
- The committee is headed by Gaza-born civil servant Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister of planning and international cooperation in the Palestinian Authority.
- Palestinian factions including Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad agreed to the committee’s composition in Egypt-mediated talks that concluded Wednesday and publicly pledged to support the 'Palestinian National Transitional Committee' in administering Gaza.
- An American diplomatic source says both the United States and Israel vetted committee members, who are mostly seen as apolitical technocrats from or with roots in Gaza and many with prior PA government experience.
- The committee is explicitly structured to report to former U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov and to a U.S.-driven 'board of peace' of world leaders envisioned in the Trump administration’s 20-point plan backed by a U.N. Security Council resolution.
- Despite the ceasefire, Israel has not withdrawn from 53% of the Gaza Strip and has not reopened the Rafah crossing for full-scale aid; more than 450 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli actions since October in what Israel describes as retaliation for ceasefire violations.
- Many aid items remain blocked by Israel and stockpiled in Egypt, with food and shelter entering only in a 'steady trickle,' according to multiple international aid agency officials.
- Hamas has not yet handed over the remains of the last deceased Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, saying it is still trying to locate them.
January 14, 2026
9:44 PM
U.S. envoy says Gaza is entering second phase of ceasefire plan
New information:
- Confirms that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has formally declared that the Gaza ceasefire deal is 'entering its second phase' after an October 2025 ceasefire under Trump’s 20-point plan.
- Reports that Egypt, Turkey and Qatar say the new Palestinian technocratic committee to run Gaza will be led by Ali Shaath, a Gaza-born engineer and former Palestinian Authority deputy transportation minister.
- Quotes Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem welcoming Witkoff’s announcement as an 'important and positive development' and stating Hamas is ready to hand over Gaza’s administration to the independent technocratic committee.
- Details that Witkoff publicly warned Hamas that failure to return the last hostage’s remains – those of 24-year-old Israeli police officer Ran Gvili – will bring 'serious consequences.'
- Includes an Israeli Prime Minister's Office statement to Ran Gvili’s parents saying that establishing a technocratic committee will not affect efforts to recover his remains and insisting Hamas is obligated under the ceasefire to secure the return of every hostage.
7:19 PM
Trump envoy warns Hamas of 'serious consequences' as admin launches phase two of Gaza plan
New information:
- Steve Witkoff formally announced on X that the Trump administration is launching 'phase two' of its Gaza plan, described as moving 'from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction.'
- Witkoff publicly warned that the U.S. 'expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage,' and said failure would bring 'serious consequences.'
- The article notes U.S. talks with Egyptian mediators and regional partners to enforce Hamas compliance, including Hamas giving up heavy weapons and a U.S.-backed 'buy‑back' program for lighter arms, as reported by the Times of Israel.
- It adds that Israel has made clear it will not allow Turkish armed forces to operate inside Gaza, viewing Turkey as a destabilizing actor despite Ankara’s bid to participate in reconstruction.
2:36 AM
U.S. to Unveil Gaza Governance Plan Despite Concerns Over Hamas
New information:
- U.S. officials say the Trump administration will announce Wednesday that it is moving to the next step of its Gaza plan and will name a committee of Palestinians to temporarily run Gaza.
- The administration explicitly labels this shift to governance and reconstruction as Phase 2 of its 20-point Gaza blueprint.
- U.S. officials’ assessment that a fragile cease-fire is holding and Hamas has returned all but one deceased hostage is being used as the trigger to move from conflict-halting to governance.
January 11, 2026
9:16 PM
Hamas says it will dissolve its Gaza government upon new Palestinian body taking over
New information:
- Hamas publicly states it will dissolve its current Gaza government once a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee, mandated by the U.S.-brokered peace plan, formally takes over.
- Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem used Telegram to call for speeding up the establishment of the technocratic committee; an Egyptian official says Hamas will meet other factions this week to finalize its formation, with senior figure Khalil al‑Hayya heading the delegation.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has been selected as director‑general of Trump’s international 'Board of Peace' that will oversee Gaza’s technocratic committee, disarmament of Hamas, an international security force, and reconstruction.
- Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi that Israel is committed to enforcing Trump’s plan, while Motegi signaled Japan’s willingness to play an 'active role' in ceasefire implementation and visited the Civil‑Military Coordination Center.
- Despite the Oct. 10 ceasefire, Palestinian hospital officials report at least three more Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza (two men in Bani Suhaila and a man in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood) as the death toll continues to rise during phase one of the deal.
January 05, 2026
11:00 AM
Israel shuts door on Turkey in Gaza as Trump praises Erdogan, plays down clash
New information:
- Reports that Israel has explicitly ruled out allowing Turkish armed forces to operate inside Gaza as part of reconstruction or security arrangements following the ceasefire.
- Details that Turkish officials told Fox News Digital Ankara does not seek to deploy troops in Gaza and is instead positioning itself for humanitarian aid, infrastructure and political influence roles.
- Adds on‑the‑record analysis from Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs president Dan Diker, who says Israel views Turkey as a strategic threat and likens Ankara to an "arsonist behaving like the firefighter" in Gaza.
- Quotes Trump at Mar‑a‑Lago repeatedly praising Erdogan as a "very good friend" and asserting that "Bibi respects him" and that "they’re not going to have a problem," signaling an effort to keep Turkey within the U.S. diplomatic framework.
- Quotes Trump’s strongest public line yet that Hamas "made an agreement that they were going to disarm" and that if they do not, the same countries in the framework "will go and wipe out Hamas," clarifying his expectations for phase‑two implementation.
December 31, 2025
9:23 PM
Netanyahu warns of ‘eighth front’ ideological battle for American hearts and minds with Christian leaders
New information:
- Netanyahu met with evangelical Christian leaders in Florida shortly after his Dec. 29, 2025 Mar-a-Lago talks with President Trump.
- He described an emerging ‘eighth front’ as an ideological battle for the ‘hearts and minds’ of especially young people in the West, particularly in the United States.
- Netanyahu framed this as a common ‘Judeo‑Christian civilization’s battle’ and contrasted ‘faith should be silent and terrorism should be understood’ with his view that ‘faith should speak its voice and terrorism should be confronted and defeated.’
- He explicitly credited U.S. Christian Zionists with making ‘Jewish Zionism possible’ and called them Israel’s ‘best friends.’
- Netanyahu reiterated that Israel faces two main threats — ‘radical Shiite Islam’ led by Iran and ‘radical Sunni Islam’ led by the Muslim Brotherhood — and claimed Israel is the only country protecting and enabling Christian communities to thrive in the region.
12:30 PM
Netanyahu raised possible "round 2" strikes on Iran with Trump
New information:
- Axios reports, citing one U.S. official and two additional U.S. sources, that Netanyahu explicitly discussed the possibility of attacking Iran again in 2026 during his Monday meeting with Trump.
- A U.S. official said Trump would likely back a "round two" of strikes if the U.S. sees "real and verifiable" steps by Iran to reconstitute its nuclear program, while acknowledging tension over how "reconstitution" is defined.
- The article clarifies that in the June 12‑day war the U.S. focused on Iranian nuclear facilities while Israel also targeted conventional ballistic‑missile assets, and that Netanyahu has recently warned of Iran rebuilding its missile program and Hezbollah rebuilding long‑range missiles in Lebanon.
- Two senior U.S. officials say Netanyahu agreed in the meeting to move to "phase two" of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, while Trump committed that if Hamas fails to honor the deal and start disarming, he will allow Israel to resume military action.
- The piece says Trump is expected in January to announce the transition to phase two, establish a Gaza Board of Peace and a new Palestinian technocratic government, with Trump chairing the Board’s first meeting during the World Economic Forum‑timed gathering (location implied but cut off).
- Israeli officials recently warned the Trump administration that an IRGC missile exercise could be cover for an attack, and U.S. and Israeli officials see miscalculation as the likeliest near‑term trigger for an Israel–Iran war.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that Iran would give a "harsh" response to any new aggression, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Trump to return to nuclear talks "in a spirit of respect" and noted prior but currently stalled contacts with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
12:53 AM
Benjamin Netanyahu pushes back on 'fake spins' suggesting tension between him and Trump
New information:
- Netanyahu, in a Fox News 'Special Report' interview, explicitly rejected media narratives of him 'butting heads' with Trump over the Gaza peace plan, calling them 'fake spins.'
- He said Trump 'cut right to the chase' at Mar‑a‑Lago and focused on the need to get Hamas to disarm, which Netanyahu described as 'banging the nail on the head.'
- Netanyahu acknowledged that Trump publicly said they disagreed on some West Bank issues but argued they share a desire to ensure the territory is not used for terrorist attacks and to build infrastructure for Israelis and Palestinians there.
- He characterized Israel’s position after what he called a 'seven-front war' and stressed that part of its strength is a 'tremendous alliance' and 'partnership of like‑minded people and leaders' with Trump.
- Netanyahu said a 'different future' for Gaza in the new year is 'possible' if Hamas is disarmed, whether by an international force or other means, and asserted that the people of Gaza want Hamas gone 'more than anyone else.'
December 30, 2025
3:30 AM
Trump, top aides asked Netanyahu to change policy in occupied West Bank
New information:
- U.S. officials say Trump and his top advisers explicitly asked Netanyahu to change Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank, marking the first time in Trump’s second term they have engaged him at length on West Bank policy.
- The U.S. side warned that violent escalation in the West Bank would undermine implementation of the Gaza peace agreement and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords before the end of Trump’s term.
- In preparatory and main meetings, Trump’s team raised concerns about settler violence against Palestinian civilians, the Palestinian Authority’s financial instability, and settlement expansion/legalization of outposts, framing West Bank policy change as critical to repairing Israel–Europe relations.
- Sources say Netanyahu “spoke very strongly against settler violence” in the meeting and pledged to take more action against it.
- Netanyahu agreed to move toward phase two of the Gaza deal despite implementation disputes and accepted Trump’s request to resume talks with the Syrian government over a potential security pact.
- The piece notes the political sensitivity of West Bank policy for Netanyahu’s coalition and that Trump had earlier lifted Biden-era sanctions on violent settlers and appointed staunchly pro-settler Mike Huckabee as ambassador, during whose tenure two Palestinian Americans were killed in settler attacks.
1:15 AM
Hamas confirms five leaders killed including 'masked spokesperson' in major blow to terror group
New information:
- Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades formally confirmed the deaths of five senior leaders: Mohammed al-Sinwar, Abu Obeida (real name Hudhayfa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout), Raed Saad, Mohammed Shabanah and Hakam al-Issa.
- Hamas publicly acknowledged for the first time that longtime masked spokesman Abu Obeida’s real identity is Hudhayfa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout and confirmed he was killed earlier in 2025 in an Israeli strike on Gaza City.
- The group confirmed that Raed Saad, described by Israeli officials as one of the principal planners of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, was killed in a targeted strike after months of tracking him in Gaza’s tunnel network.
- The deaths of Rafah Brigade head Mohammed Shabanah and founding commander Hakam al-Issa, previously reported by Israel, were formally acknowledged by Hamas as resulting from earlier Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
- Despite an October ceasefire, Trump, speaking after his Dec. 29, 2025 Mar-a-Lago meeting with Netanyahu, warned that Hamas will be given a 'very short period of time to disarm' or face unspecified 'severe consequences' and said the next phase of the Gaza peace plan could move quickly if Hamas disarms.
December 29, 2025
8:16 PM
Israel's president denies telling Trump a Netanyahu pardon is "on its way"
New information:
- During the Mar-a-Lago meeting, Trump publicly claimed Israeli President Isaac Herzog told him a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'is on its way.'
- Herzog’s office swiftly issued a formal statement denying any such recent conversation with Trump, saying they have not spoken since the pardon request was submitted.
- Herzog’s office clarified that several weeks ago he spoke only with a representative of Trump who inquired about Trump’s written pardon request, and was told the request would be handled according to standard procedures.
- A White House official previously told Axios that Netanyahu has 'lost' the trust and support of everyone in the Trump administration except Trump himself, underscoring intra‑administration frustration over Netanyahu and the Gaza process.
- An Israeli official said Netanyahu hopes the Mar-a-Lago meeting will move Trump toward his more hawkish position on Gaza, while Trump continues to publicly praise Netanyahu.
5:04 PM
Trump and Netanyahu meeting at Mar-a-Lago to discuss Gaza peace plan
New information:
- Confirms that the Trump–Netanyahu meeting at Mar-a-Lago is taking place Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, as the administration seeks to move into phase two of the Gaza peace plan.
- Reports that Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Netanyahu the morning of the Trump meeting.
- Adds sequencing detail that the visit follows a meeting a week earlier in which U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey about next steps in the Gaza plan.
- Clarifies that the first phase of the plan involved an immediate ceasefire, return of all hostages and humanitarian aid, and that the ceasefire has been in effect since November, more than two years after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas‑led attack.
- Notes that Hamas has refused to disarm and has not yet returned all Israeli hostage remains, and that Israel has recently conducted some strikes in Gaza.
- Situates the Trump–Netanyahu meeting as coming immediately after Trump’s Dec. 28 Mar-a-Lago meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where both sides said they were nearly in agreement on a Ukraine peace plan and Zelenskyy praised U.S. 'strong security guarantees.'
2:55 PM
WATCH LIVE: Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago
New information:
- Confirms the Trump–Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, with public remarks expected at 1 p.m. ET and carried live.
- Reiterates that the ceasefire’s first phase began in October, days after the two-year anniversary of the initial Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people, and notes that all but one of the 251 hostages have now been released, alive or dead.
- Provides additional detail on the envisioned second phase: a demilitarized Gaza rebuilt under an international Board of Peace chaired by Trump, with a technocratic Palestinian committee running daily affairs under its supervision and a two-year, renewable U.N. mandate.
- Adds expert assessment from CSIS analyst Mona Yacoubian that many key elements of the second phase are opposed by Netanyahu, making it a 'really tall order' for Trump to secure Israeli agreement and potentially revealing a "broader clash of approaches to the region."
- States that names of Board of Peace members had been expected by year-end but may instead be announced after this meeting or pushed into next month.
12:18 PM
Trump says Ukraine peace is closer. And, how funding cuts affect anti-poverty groups
New information:
- NPR confirms Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida 'today' (Dec. 29, 2025) to focus on remaining items in Trump’s 20‑point plan to end the Gaza war.
- NPR adds that Israeli officials see no signs Hamas is prepared to disarm, which could lead Netanyahu to press the U.S. to maintain pressure on Hamas to uphold its commitments.
- The piece notes that Israeli concerns at the meeting extend to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran’s buildup of ballistic missiles, framing these as likely topics alongside Gaza.
- NPR flags that a key thing to watch is whether Trump will announce a 'board of peace' or concrete steps toward creating an international force on the ground in Gaza.
11:00 AM
From Gaza to Iran: What’s at stake in Trump-Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago talks?
New information:
- Netanyahu is expected to present Trump with Israeli plans for a potential strike on Iran, focused on Iran’s missile program according to analyst Meir Javedanfar.
- Israeli officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, have warned U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper that a recent IRGC missile drill could be masking preparations for an attack on Israel.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a Saturday interview that Iran is in a 'total war' with the United States, Israel and Europe and that these actors are trying to bring Iran 'to its knees.'
- Axios is cited as reporting that U.S. intelligence currently assesses there is no immediate threat, even as Israeli defense officials maintain a heightened alert posture.
- Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid tells Fox that Israel’s 'top priority' with Trump should be managing stage two in Gaza, and that disarmament of Hamas and removing the Gaza threat 'requires the implementation of President Trump’s plan.'
6:37 AM
Trump and Netanyahu to meet in Florida at a crucial moment for the Gaza ceasefire
New information:
- Confirms that Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Mar‑a‑Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, their first in‑person meeting since Trump's October visit to Israel to mark the start of the ceasefire’s initial phase.
- States that Trump’s 20‑point Gaza plan has been formally approved by the U.N. Security Council.
- Describes additional institutional details of phase two: Gaza would be rebuilt as a demilitarized territory under international supervision by a Board of Peace chaired by Trump, with a 'technocratic, apolitical' Palestinian committee running daily affairs under that board and an International Stabilization Force providing security under a two‑year, renewable U.N. mandate.
- Notes that the Board of Peace members were expected to be named by the end of the year and might be revealed after the Trump–Netanyahu meeting, though the announcement could slip into next month.
- Reports that the ceasefire has 'mostly held' but that progress has slowed, with both sides accusing each other of violations and growing divisions between the U.S., Israel and Arab states on the path forward.
- Adds expert assessment from CSIS analyst Mona Yacoubian that many core elements of phase two are opposed by Netanyahu and that getting his agreement will be a 'tall order,' potentially revealing a 'broader clash of approaches' between Trump and Netanyahu.
- Reiterates that Trump insists Iran’s nuclear capabilities were 'completely and fully obliterated' in June U.S. strikes and identifies Iran as another likely topic at the meeting.
- Notes that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently met in Florida with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials, which have been mediating the ceasefire, immediately ahead of the Mar‑a‑Lago summit.
December 26, 2025
11:00 AM
Netanyahu's Mar-a-Lago visit "crucial" for future of Gaza deal
New information:
- Confirms that Trump and Netanyahu will meet at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, a meeting described by both U.S. and Israeli officials as 'crucial' to the future of the Gaza deal.
- Reports that the White House wants to unveil a Palestinian technocratic government and an International Stabilization Force for Gaza as soon as early January, and is considering convening the Trump-led Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos later in January.
- Details sharp friction between Netanyahu and Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over Gaza demilitarization and phase-two implementation, including Netanyahu’s skepticism voiced in a recent meeting with Sen. Lindsey Graham.
- Quotes White House officials saying Netanyahu has 'lost' most of Trump’s senior team (naming J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Susie Wiles), with only Trump personally still backing him while wanting faster movement on the deal.
- Describes U.S. complaints that Israeli actions — such as killing a top Hamas commander in operations that also killed Palestinian civilians and children — are viewed by the Trump administration as cease-fire violations and evidence that some IDF commanders are 'trigger-happy.'
- Reveals that Netanyahu himself initiated the idea of a holiday-period meeting in a Dec. 1 phone call with Trump and that his team leaked that the meeting would occur at Mar-a-Lago.
December 22, 2025
10:00 AM
Witkoff's Miami golf club becomes epicenter of global diplomacy
New information:
- Specifies that the Miami-based Gaza negotiations are taking place at Steve Witkoff’s Shell Bay club, not just in Miami generally.
- Reports that on Friday the Qatari prime minister, Egyptian intelligence chief and Turkish foreign minister met Witkoff at Shell Bay to discuss Gaza.
- Says the four officials issued a joint statement the next day calling to move toward phase two of the Gaza deal and enable a new Palestinian governing body to begin running Gaza.
- Clarifies that these Gaza talks occurred in parallel with Ukraine negotiations at the same venue, underscoring Shell Bay’s role as a combined diplomatic hub.
December 20, 2025
7:55 PM
US envoy Witkoff says high-level Miami talks focused on 'unified Gazan authority' as Israel ceasefire advances
New information:
- Steve Witkoff publicly stated that phase-two discussions in Miami focused on 'enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order.'
- Witkoff said the talks also covered 'regional integration measures' such as trade facilitation, infrastructure, and cooperation on energy and water as part of Gaza’s recovery and regional stability.
- He reported that phase one of the ceasefire yielded tangible results: humanitarian aid flows into Gaza, reduced hostilities, partial Israeli troop withdrawal, and the release of all living hostages and most deceased hostages.
- The article notes that only one hostage remains with Hamas in terms of remains not yet returned: Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, killed in the Oct. 7 attacks.
- The piece reiterates that phase two envisions deployment of an International Stabilization Force, creation of an international body to govern Gaza, Hamas disarmament, and further Israeli withdrawal from the 'yellow line' before the international force takes over.
December 18, 2025
2:53 PM
Scoop: Witkoff to meet Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish officials in Miami on Gaza deal
New information:
- White House envoy Steve Witkoff will host a high-level meeting Friday in Miami with Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss phase two of the Gaza agreement.
- Mediators believe both Israel and Hamas are slow‑walking implementation of the second phase of the deal and are interested in maintaining the current status quo.
- The Miami meeting is described as the highest-level gathering of the four mediating countries (U.S., Qatar, Egypt, Turkey) in the U.S. since the October signing of the deal, aimed at agreeing on joint pressure tactics on Israel and Hamas.
- The article restates phase-two obligations: Hamas must agree to leave power in Gaza, accept deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), and begin disarming and decommissioning tunnels and military infrastructure; Israel must reopen the Rafah crossing in both directions, move to further IDF withdrawals, enable ISF deployment, and allow formation of a Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza.
- The White House is trying to finalize plans to establish the Trump-led Gaza Board of Peace, deploy the ISF and announce the Palestinian technocratic government, with Trump wanting to make these announcements in January.
- Over the weekend, the White House sent a stern private message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the killing of a top Hamas military commander constituted a violation of the cease-fire and reflecting growing Trump administration frustration with Israeli policy on the next phase.
- President Trump recently told Netanyahu he must be a "better partner" on Gaza, and Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 29.
- The article notes Witkoff will also host upcoming Miami meetings involving Ukrainian and Russian officials about the separate U.S.-driven Ukraine peace framework.
12:24 PM
Could international troops be sent to Gaza? Here's why Trump's plan hinges on it
New information:
- NPR obtained a U.S. State Department document describing Washington’s vision for international troops in Gaza to support demilitarization, dismantle terrorist infrastructure, and decommission weapons used by terrorists.
- A U.S.-convened planning meeting for the International Stabilization Force (ISF) took place this week in Doha, Qatar, with representatives of dozens of countries but no formal troop commitments yet.
- The UN Security Council has formally mandated international troops to operate in Gaza through the end of 2027, though the specific role of these forces remains undefined.
- Countries being considered as ISF contributors include Italy, Egypt, Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, according to officials and media reports.
- Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara could "play a leading role" and favors ISF troops as peacekeepers along a border zone between Hamas- and Israel-controlled areas, but explicitly rejected an enforcement role to disarm Hamas.
- Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty likewise said Cairo views the ISF mandate as peacekeeping, not peace-enforcing, and wants monitors deployed quickly because he says Israel is violating the cease-fire daily.
- Multiple Muslim-majority states have indicated they will not send troops into Gaza to forcibly disarm Hamas or other armed groups.
- The U.S. goal is to have international forces on the ground in Gaza by early 2026, but that timeline faces major political and operational challenges.
December 16, 2025
4:31 PM
Search for body of last hostage held by Hamas in Gaza is delayed due to bad weather
New information:
- Israeli official says search for the body of the last Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, is delayed by heavy rain and poor ground conditions in northern Gaza; operations to resume when conditions allow.
- Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirms there are currently no search operations due to weather.
- Phase two of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire is on hold until Hamas transfers Gvili’s body to Israeli authorities.
- IDF urges Hamas to fulfill its part of the agreement; Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassim calls the search 'very complicated.'
- UNRWA warns people are 'freezing to death' amid Storm Byron; Gaza civil defense reports dozens killed by collapsing waterlogged structures.
December 12, 2025
6:32 PM
Waltz hails ‘night-and-day’ Middle East shift as Trump’s Gaza plan reshapes region
New information:
- Ambassador Michael Waltz says roughly 100 U.S. troops are in Israel (not in Gaza) as a small headquarters element to coordinate humanitarian aid and military deconfliction.
- Waltz states the UN has adopted a resolution endorsing the Board of Peace, setting transitional governance parameters for Gaza, and launching the International Stabilization Force.
- Waltz describes active burden-sharing with UN, NGOs, Israel, Egypt, and Arab states, and frames the situation as 'night and day' compared with a year ago.
December 11, 2025
10:00 AM
Trump plans to appoint U.S. general to lead Gaza security force
New information:
- The Trump administration plans to appoint an American two-star general to command the Gaza International Stabilization Force (ISF), per two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials.
- UN Ambassador Mike Waltz told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the U.S. will lead the ISF and that he knows the slated general personally, according to Israeli officials.
- A White House official says compositions of the ISF, Board of Peace, and a technocratic Palestinian government are under discussion but no final decisions have been made.
- The U.S. has proposed former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov as the Board of Peace representative on the ground in Gaza.
- Germany and Italy have been invited to join the Board of Peace; prior interest in sending ISF troops came from Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Egypt, though Western participation is uncertain.
- U.S. officials say a civil-military HQ in Israel is already overseeing the ceasefire and aid coordination; the administration maintains there will be no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza.
- Key friction points for partners include whether Hamas will disarm and the ISF rules of engagement.
December 10, 2025
3:23 PM
Aid deliveries into Gaza fail to meet ceasefire terms, analysis shows
New information:
- AP analysis of COGAT figures finds Gaza aid averaged 459 trucks/day Oct. 12–Dec. 7 versus the ceasefire’s 600/day target.
- COGAT says ~18,000 food-aid trucks entered since the truce (70% of total aid since the truce), implying just over 25,700 trucks total vs. ~33,600 expected by Dec. 7.
- UN database shows only 6,545 trucks offloaded in the same period (~113/day), with discrepancies attributed to non‑UN bilateral shipments and bottlenecks.
- OCHA cites ‘persistent impediments’ — insecurity, customs clearance, crossing denials/delays, and limited internal routes — constraining deliveries.
- Israel temporarily halted aid at least once over alleged Hamas truce violations tied to returning hostage remains; Hamas cites difficulties locating remains amid destruction.
December 09, 2025
8:11 PM
Trump’s ceasefire plan for the Israel-Hamas war faces pitfalls as it moves into new phase
New information:
- The U.N. Security Council has approved President Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan to end Hamas’ rule in Gaza.
- Phase one is nearly complete with the remains of one hostage still in Gaza; Qatar’s prime minister says the ceasefire is at a ‘critical point.’
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to the White House this month to discuss next steps.
- A U.S. official says partner countries are meeting this month and predicts ‘boots on the ground’ for the International Stabilization Force in early 2026.
- Countries expressing willingness to participate in the ISF include Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, though no firm commitments or command structure have been finalized.
- Hamas says it will oppose efforts by the force to disarm it, and Israel is hesitant to entrust security to an international body.
- Trump will head an international ‘Board of Peace’ to supervise Gaza’s technocratic administration; Tony Blair has been floated as a possible member, but Trump is the only official member named so far.
3:30 PM
Hamas wants more pressure on Israel before ceasefire’s next phase
New information:
- Hamas official Husam Badran threatened not to proceed to phase two unless Israel fully implements phase one, including opening a key crossing, halting strikes, and allowing more aid.
- Israel said it would begin allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza through a crossing on the Jordan–Israel border.
- Updated figure from Palestinian health officials: at least 376 Palestinians have been killed since the Oct. 10 ceasefire took hold amid Israeli operations.
- Hamas says destruction from Israeli strikes has hampered efforts to locate the last hostage’s remains.
- UN and aid groups say current aid levels are far short of needs.
December 07, 2025
8:54 PM
Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas will soon enter second phase of ceasefire
New information:
- Netanyahu said phase two could begin by the end of the month, contingent on Hamas returning the remains of Ran Gvili.
- AP quotes a senior Hamas official saying the group is ready to discuss “freezing or storing or laying down” its weapons as part of the ceasefire.
- IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the Gaza “Yellow Line” a “new border” and said Israel will remain on those defense lines.
- Germany will assist phase-two implementation by sending officers and diplomats to a U.S.-led civilian and military coordination center and by sending humanitarian aid.
- Completion of phase one would include Israel returning 15 Palestinian bodies in exchange for Gvili’s remains.
3:30 PM
Netanyahu says he expects Gaza ceasefire second phase to begin soon
New information:
- Netanyahu said phase two of the Gaza ceasefire is expected to begin 'very shortly' and could start by the end of the month.
- Netanyahu announced he will meet President Trump later this month to discuss 'opportunities for peace.'
- AP-sourced detail: an international body overseeing the ceasefire, led by President Trump, is expected to be appointed by the end of the year.
- Netanyahu framed phase two as focused on the disarmament of Hamas and demilitarization of Gaza, with a third phase on 'deradicalization.'
- Status note: the remains of Israeli Master Sgt. Ran Gvili have not yet been returned.
2:39 PM
Netanyahu says second phase of Gaza ceasefire soon to begin
New information:
- Netanyahu said Israel and Hamas are "very shortly" expected to move into phase two of the ceasefire, possibly by the end of the month, contingent on Hamas returning the remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili.
- He outlined phase two elements: deploying an international force in Gaza and forming a temporary Palestinian government under an international board led by President Donald Trump.
- Germany will assist phase two by sending officers and diplomats to a U.S.-led civilian/military coordination center in southern Israel and by providing humanitarian aid.
- Netanyahu acknowledged travel concerns due to an ICC warrant and said there are no immediate plans to visit Germany; Merz reiterated support for Israel and a two-state solution while saying recognition of a Palestinian state should come at the end of a process.
December 06, 2025
9:03 PM
Qatari prime minister says Gaza ceasefire is at a critical moment as first phase winds down
New information:
- Qatar’s prime minister says the ceasefire is at a “critical moment” as the first phase winds down and stresses it remains a pause, not a full ceasefire.
- He states one Israeli hostage’s remains still need to be handed over; Israel sent a delegation to Egypt last week to discuss returning the last hostage’s remains.
- The second phase has not begun; it envisions an international security force in Gaza, a technocratic government, Hamas disarmament, and eventual Israeli withdrawal.
- Turkey’s foreign minister publicly questions the composition/command of any Gaza security force and notes Israel rejects Turkish participation.
- AP cites Arab and Western officials that an international oversight body led by President Trump is expected to be appointed by year-end.
- Operational update: Shifa Hospital reports two Palestinians killed in a strike northwest of Gaza City; IDF says it isn’t aware of an airstrike there but says soldiers killed three militants who crossed the “yellow line” into the Israeli-controlled area.
7:30 PM
Gaza ceasefire talks in "critical moment" as second phase in deal yet to begin
New information:
- Qatar’s prime minister says the ceasefire is at a “critical moment,” stressing it is only a pause and not yet a full ceasefire without Israeli withdrawal and restored stability in Gaza.
- The second phase of the U.S. plan — including deployment of an international security force, a technocratic Gaza government, Hamas disarmament, and eventual Israeli withdrawal — has not begun.
- Arab and Western officials told AP that an international body to oversee the ceasefire, led by President Trump, is expected to be appointed by year-end.
- Turkey’s foreign minister raised major open questions about the international security force’s participants, command structure, and initial mission, noting Israel rejects Turkish participation.
- Gaza health officials say 360+ Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October truce took effect; Shifa Hospital reported two new deaths in an airstrike northwest of Gaza City.
- The IDF said it killed three militants who crossed a “yellow line” into an Israeli‑controlled area in northern Gaza and posed an immediate threat.
December 04, 2025