Trump did not notify Netanyahu about Qatari, Turkish participation in Gaza's Board of Peace - Tobias Holcman

 

by Tobias Holcman

"We did not tell Netanyahu in advance about the composition of the executive committee. Gaza is now our show, not his show," officials told N12.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on next to US President Donald Trump as Trump leaves Israel en route to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, Israel, October 13, 2025.

(photo credit: REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)

 

Israel was not notified in advance about the presence of Qatari and Turkish officials among the Gaza Board of Peace (BoP) announced by US President Donald Trump, US officials told N12 on Saturday.

"We did not tell Netanyahu in advance about the composition of the executive committee. He did not expect there to be representatives from Turkey and Qatar, but Gaza is now our show, not his show," the officials told N12.

"If he [Netanyahu] wants the Trump administration to deal with Gaza - we will do it our way," they added.

In a separate statement, the technocratic administration expected to take over Gaza said that it "embrace[s] peace, through which we strive to secure the path to real Palestinian rights and self-determination."

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)

The revelation came as Israeli officials raised concerns over the makeup of the BoP, saying that it contradicts Israeli policy and was not brought up with Israeli authorities.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to take the matter up with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Prime Minister's Office stated following the announcement.

'A diplomatic failure for Israel': Politicians slam BoP announcement

Israeli politicians from across the political spectrum slammed the announcement of the BoP members in various statements on Saturday.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) called the announcement on the Gaza Board of Peace a "diplomatic failure for Israel."

Lapid claimed that, for the last year, he has been warning the government that "if you don’t advance the Egyptian solution with the US and the world, you’ll end up with Turkey and Qatar in Gaza.”

"Last night the composition of the 'Board of Peace' was published – Turkey is in, Qatar is in, and according to the IDF, Hamas still has 30,000 armed men in Gaza," he posted in X/Twitter.

"This is a complete diplomatic failure of the Netanyahu government after the endless heroism and sacrifice of the soldiers and commanders of the IDF," he added.

Amichai Stein contributed to this report.

Tobias Holcman

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-883650

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