The peace council created by Donald Trump for the Gaza Strip is under fire for overstepping the authority of the United Nations and granting the American president extensive powers, effectively centralizing decision-making. This criticism comes on the heels of the council being mentioned in Trump's peace plan for Gaza, which he announced in late September, where it is described as a body to supervise a Palestinian committee for managing the region. The council's role has since evolved, suggesting a shift towards a more global approach to its mandate.

Further complicating matters, the administrative nature of the council surfaced again in Security Council Resolution 2803, issued in November, which bolstered Trump's authority by establishing a timeline for the council's operations. According to this resolution, the council's mandate will expire at the end of 2027, suggesting that there will be an ongoing dialogue surrounding its operations and legitimacy in the international arena.

The council is chaired by Trump himself and comprises an executive board of seven prominent figures, including U.S. envoy Steve Wietkoff, Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others. However, the council’s limited membership has raised questions about its representativeness and the legitimacy of its operations in a region as complex as Gaza, prompting calls for broader involvement from international stakeholders and local representatives to ensure more balanced governance and oversight.