US official says PM deliberately not told of Qatari, Turkish inclusion on Gaza panel — report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was deliberately not notified by the United States about the makeup of the Gaza Board of Peace’s executive committee, a senior US official tells Channel 12, in a report following the premier’s statement tonight that the unveiling of the oversight body “was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy.”

The official, who is said to be directly involved in the issue, tells the Hebrew network that the US intentionally chose not to inform Netanyahu about the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and senior Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi on the committee. Their appointments are believed to have angered Netanyahu, as both Turkey and Qatar have been sharply critical of Israel and its conduct of the war in Gaza.

The official asserts that Gaza is now being handled by the US and encourages Netanyahu to focus on other issues, such as developments in Iran, adding that the administration has no intention to argue with the premier and suggesting that his influence on the matter is limited.

Channel 12 also reports that Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay, who will serve on the Executive Committee, is very close to top Trump aide Jared Kushner and former British premier Tony Blair, who were appointed to the body as well. An expert in real estate and infrastructure, Gabay is expected to focus on the reconstruction of the Strip, the network says.

In contrast to the US official cited by Channel 12, a Ynet report cites US officials who claim that Israel was informed in advance about the makeup of the Gaza oversight bodies, despite Netanyahu’s assertion that no coordination took place.