Tel aviv: Israeli Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock has publicly denounced US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' initiative, labeling it a 'bad plan' and urging for a direct Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip.
According to Anadolu Agency, Strock voiced her concerns during an interview with the settler radio station Galey Israel, where she criticized the potential risks to Israeli soldiers posed by the initiative. "We are not supposed to endanger our soldiers for this bad plan, and I may have to leave the government," Strock stated, emphasizing her disapproval of the proposal.
Her comments follow Trump's recent signing of the founding charter of the "Board of Peace" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This move aims to formalize a proposal he presented earlier, which has sparked controversy. Strock questioned the governance of Gaza should Israeli forces re-enter, citing the costly implications of such an action.
Reflecting on Israel's 2005 disengagement from Gaza during Ariel Sharon's tenure, Strock argued against handing control to the Palestinian Authority again. "Let's assume the Israeli army really enters and occupies Gaza -- to whom would we hand it over? To the Palestinian Authority? We did that in 2005 and saw the result," she remarked.
Strock further advocated that Israel should maintain sole authority in Gaza post-disarmament and after defeating Hamas. The ongoing second phase of the ceasefire agreement, effective from October 10, outlines disarmament provisions for Hamas and other factions, further military withdrawals by Israel, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts. However, Hamas has refused to disarm, suggesting instead the storage or freezing of their weapons, maintaining their stance as a resistance movement against Israel.
Expressing her skepticism, Strock mentioned her inability to foresee any minister in Israel's Security Cabinet supporting a military intervention in Gaza only to relinquish control to Palestinian officials. She expressed potential action should Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continue down this path.
Trump's announcement of the "Board of Peace" on January 15 is part of a larger strategy for Gaza, which led to the recent ceasefire. The UN Security Council authorized the board under Resolution 2803 in November 2025. According to the White House, Trump chairs the board, supported by an executive board with expertise in diplomacy and economic strategy.
Despite the ceasefire, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire, with the Israeli army's recent offensive causing significant casualties and infrastructural damage. The Gaza Health Ministry reports continued Israeli attacks, resulting in further casualties.