The White House denies the $1 billion fee for the Gaza Peace Council

The White House has categorically denied media reports that the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump intends to impose hefty fees of up to $1 billion on countries wishing to join the proposed "Peace Council" to manage and rebuild the Gaza Strip. This denial puts an end to the controversy sparked by press leaks suggesting that diplomatic efforts would be reduced to purely commercial deals.

The truth about the Bloomberg report and the official response

Bloomberg published a report on Saturday, based on an alleged draft charter, stating that the Trump administration planned to require countries to pay $1 billion as a condition for membership in the council. The report also indicated that Trump would assume the council's inaugural presidency, with the position rotating among member states every three years.

However, the White House quickly dismissed the reports as "misleading," asserting in an official statement that there is no minimum membership fee. The US administration clarified that membership will be granted to partner countries that demonstrate a genuine and deep commitment to the principles of peace, security, and prosperity in the region, not based on their ability to pay upfront.

Context of the initiative and the importance of the "Peace Council"

These moves come at a highly sensitive time for the Middle East, with the Gaza Strip suffering widespread devastation from the ongoing war. The proposed "Peace Council" aims to address post-war challenges, which require coordinated international efforts that go beyond traditional humanitarian aid.

The council's tasks revolve around several key pillars:

• Comprehensive reconstruction: attracting huge investments to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure.
• Security and administrative stability: Strengthening local administrative capacities to ensure that tensions do not return.
• Regional cooperation: Integrating the efforts of active countries in the region within a unified framework.

The formation of this council reflects the Trump administration’s vision, which often tends to merge economics with politics, drawing on the expertise of prominent economic and political figures to ensure the flow of capital needed for major projects.

The most prominent nominated names and invited countries

Reports have revealed an initial list of figures with significant political and financial influence, indicating the council's "technocratic-political" nature. Among the names being considered for leadership roles within the council are:

• Jared Kushner: Trump's son-in-law and the architect of the "Abraham Accords," reflecting a desire to complete the path of regional normalization.
• Tony Blair: The former British Prime Minister, who has extensive experience as an envoy for the Quartet.
• Steve Witkoff: Trump's special envoy, and businessman Mark Rowan.
• Regional and international figures: such as Nikolay Mladenov (former UN envoy), Sigrid Kaag (current UN envoy), as well as high-level representatives from Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and the UAE.

Invitations were also extended to international leaders to participate, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, demonstrating Washington's desire to give this coalition a broad international character to ensure the success of its complex tasks in the Gaza Strip.