A US-mediated Gaza peace initiative is poised for formal unveiling next week, with its inaugural session scheduled during the Davos Economic Forum. According to Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian-American mediator with established connections to the Trump administration, the newly formed ‘Gaza Peace Council’ will convene on the sidelines of the international gathering in Switzerland later this month.
Bahbah, who previously facilitated communications between Hamas and the White House and led the ‘Arab Americans for Trump’ coalition, disclosed these developments via social media. His instrumental role included negotiating the release of US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander in May 2025.
This diplomatic movement occurs alongside signs of progress for President Trump’s previously stalled peace initiative. The initiative has gained momentum with the appointment of Nickolay Mladenov, former United Nations Middle East envoy and Bulgarian diplomat, as the board’s executive director. Currently based in the UAE, Mladenov recently engaged in high-level discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh.
The peace board’s structure will feature President Trump alongside other global leaders at its helm, operating in coordination with a committee of Palestinian technocrats in Gaza. Bahbah indicated that foundational entities responsible for overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction are expected to be established within thirty days, with Palestinian factions anticipated to meet in Cairo to announce an independent technocratic committee.
Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered in October, the situation remains precarious with documented Israeli violations resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties. The UN Security Council’s November mandate for an international stabilization force faces implementation challenges, as potential contributing nations express reluctance to operate between Hamas and the Israeli military.
Complicating matters further, Israel has moved to withdraw recognition from international aid organizations operating in Gaza, alleging hostility. This contradicts the US-guaranteed ceasefire agreement, which specifically ensured unimpeded aid delivery through UN agencies and the reopening of the Rafah border crossing—a commitment that remains unfulfilled.