Mark Carney accepts spot on Trump’s Gaza 'Board of Peace', government source says
Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has accepted an invitation to join a U.S.-led international board that would oversee temporary governance in Gaza, a senior official said.
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By Torontoer Staff
Mark Carney has accepted an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called "Board of Peace" on the future governance of Gaza, a senior Canadian government official told The Globe and Mail. The source was not authorised to speak publicly and was not named.
The White House announced other board members on Friday as part of a plan it released late last year. The board would supervise a temporary, technocratic Palestinian authority in Gaza, under a U.S.-led framework amid continuing violence despite a fragile ceasefire that began in October.
Who is on the board
The White House list mixes former and current political figures, private sector executives and international officials. It did not specify the exact role each member would play.
- Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, currently on an international travel schedule that includes Qatar and the World Economic Forum in Davos
- Marco Rubio, United States senator
- Tony Blair, former prime minister of the United Kingdom
- Jared Kushner, senior White House adviser and the president’s son-in-law
- Steve Witkoff, named by the White House as a special Middle East envoy
- Marc Rowan, private equity executive and billionaire
- Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank
- Robert Gabriel, senior Trump adviser
- Nickolay Mladenov, former UN Middle East envoy, named high representative for Gaza
Mandate and mechanics
According to the White House announcement, the board would oversee a temporary, technocratic Palestinian governing body in Gaza for a transitional period. The president’s 20-point plan positions Mr. Trump as chair of the board.
"[Members] will supervise the temporary governance of Gaza,"
White House statement
The statement did not spell out how decisions would be made, what legal authority the board would hold, or how it would interact with Israeli and Palestinian institutions. It also did not define timelines, benchmarks or the exit conditions for the international oversight.
Context and immediate reaction
The proposal arrived amid a fragile cessation of hostilities that began in October, but violence and humanitarian concerns in Gaza persist. The plan claims prior acceptance from Israel and Hamas on the broad framework, though details remain contested and will affect acceptance on the ground.
Carney’s inclusion shifts the profile of the board toward economic and governance expertise, rather than only diplomatic or military figures. His role raises questions about Canadian government endorsement, since Carney is a private citizen and former central banker.
Observers have pointed to potential challenges: whether the board would be seen as neutral by Palestinians, how it would secure buy-in from local leaders, and how responsibility for security, reconstruction and civil services would be apportioned among international actors.
Timeline and next steps
- October: Fragile ceasefire took effect amid ongoing humanitarian needs
- Late last year: White House released a 20-point plan outlining transitional governance for Gaza
- Friday: White House published the initial list of board members
- Saturday: Canadian official confirmed Carney accepted the invitation, as he travels from Beijing to Qatar and then to Davos
Diplomatic engagement is expected to continue in Doha and at international forums including the World Economic Forum in Davos, where several listed members and regional actors may be present. The White House has yet to provide detailed operational guidance or a public calendar for the board’s work.
What to watch next
Key developments to monitor include formal acceptance or rejection by Palestinian leadership, a clearer mandate and authority for the board, and any Canadian government statement clarifying whether Carney’s participation reflects official policy. Accountability measures, funding sources and the transition plan for local governance will determine how the board’s work is received.
For now, the announcement frames a new international role for a mix of political and private sector figures, with details still to come and significant questions about legitimacy and practical implementation remaining unanswered.
Mark CarneyGazaDonald Trumpinternational relationsDavos
