'Diplomatic failure for Israel': Opposition and coalition slam Trump's Gaza Board of Peace

Israeli politicians from across the political spectrum slammed the announcement of the members of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace (BoP) in various statements on Saturday.

Lapid claimed that, for the last year, he has been warning the government that "if you don’t advance the Egyptian solution with the US and the world, you’ll end up with Turkey and Qatar in Gaza.”

"This is a complete diplomatic failure of the Netanyahu government after the endless heroism and sacrifice of the soldiers and commanders of the IDF," he added.

Gadi Eisenkot, former MK from Blue and White, said blamed the political echelon's lack of decision making for the board of peace's membership.

"We built and warned that the absence of Israeli initiative and decision-making on 'the day after' in Gaza would lead to a loss of control, and today reality is exploding in our faces: Netanyahu has lost the reins, other countries are the ones managing Gaza over Israel's head, with Turkey and Qatar being part of the governing body."

Yair Golan (Democrats) said that the problem behind the establishment of the Gaza BoP wasn't "logistics" but rather "a leadership problem."

"Instead of leveraging military achievements into political power that weakens Hamas, the Netanyahu-Smotrich government repeatedly chooses 'Hamas is an asset.' We will replace the government of destruction and bring down Hamas rule," he assured.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) slammed the announcement, and claimed that the only way to end the war was to clear the Gaza Strip.

"The Gaza Strip does not need any 'administrative committee' to oversee its 'rehabilitation.' It needs to be cleansed of Hamas terrorists, who must be destroyed, alongside massive voluntary emigration, in accordance with the original plan of President Trump."

"I call on the Prime Minister to order the IDF to prepare to return to war with tremendous force in the Gaza Strip, in order to achieve the central objective of the war: the destruction of Hamas," he added.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also slammed the establishment of the Gaza board, saying that "the countries that breathed life into Hamas cannot be the ones to replace it.

"Those that support it and continue to host it even now will not gain a foothold in Gaza," he added. "The original sin is the prime minister's unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza, to establish military rule there, to encourage immigration and settlement, and thereby to ensure Israel's security for many years."

The parents of Ran Gvilli, the only remaining slain Israeli hostage still held by Hamas in Gaza, also criticised the decision to establish the Gaza board.

"While we are here waiting for Ran's return, a peace council is being built for phase two. How can we think of phase two? What kind of peace are we talking about? Whose peace?" they said in a statement.

They also demanded answers from all involved in the matter.

"As a father and mother, we ask - do not allow this to happen! Do not leave our Rani behind and bury us with him."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also demanded Gvili's return.

"As the Board of Peace is being formed and the deal advances toward Phase Two, Ran is still not home. The world is watching. We must pressure Hamas to stop playing games, stop tormenting the Gvili family, and bring Rani home. Rani comes first."

Argentine President Javier Milei announced that he had been invited by Trump to serve on the board, and issued a statement accepting the invitation and thanking the US president.

"It is an honor for me to have received tonight the invitation for Argentina to join, as a Founding Member, the Board of Peace, an organization created by President Trump to promote lasting peace in regions affected by conflict, starting with the Gaza Strip," he said in a post.

Turkish authorities announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also among the possible new members of the BoP.

"US President Donald Trump, on January 16, 2026, in his capacity as the founding president of the Peace Council, sent a letter inviting our President, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to participate as a founding member in the Board of Peace," said Burhanettin Duran, spokesperson of the Turkish presidency.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a response to Trump's announcement on the BoP and Egypt's role in the Gaza Executive Board, saying in a press conference that the government is examining the invitation for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to join the board.

Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay praised Trump's appointment of him to Gaza's Board of Peace.

“Gabay thanks President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner for the trust they have placed in him. He intends to work with fellow board members to advance the president’s vision for Gaza, focused on development, rebuilding, prosperity, and a free economy, alongside expanding the Abraham Accords to additional countries," a statement shared by his spokesperson reads.

He also demanded the full disarmament of Hamas as a prerequisite for implementing the development plan, while also assuring that "efforts will continue at the highest level to bring the kidnapped Border Police fighter Ran Gvili home for burial in Israel."