DaysofPal- A leaked four-page draft decision obtained by The Guardian outlines the proposed framework for the so-called Peace Council announced by U.S. President Donald Trump to administer the Gaza Strip, raising concerns over its legal and political implications.
The document, classified as sensitive, outlines a sweeping framework that seeks to grant comprehensive legal immunity to members of the council, its international forces, and affiliated contractors, shielding them from prosecution or arrest within Gaza.
The draft provides full immunity from the jurisdiction of Gaza’s local courts for members of the executive council, the Office of the High Representative, and personnel involved in reconstruction efforts. It also grants Council Chairman Donald Trump exclusive authority to waive immunity for any individual, provided that a majority of the council’s seven executive members approve the decision, effectively concentrating legal authority within the body’s senior leadership.
The proposed council includes several figures closely associated with Trump, including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Susie Wiles, and Marco Rubio, reflecting an effort to establish political and security oversight of Gaza during the post-war period.
Beyond legal immunity, the draft authorizes the council and its international forces to use public buildings and facilities throughout Gaza free of charge.
Legal experts cited in the report warned that such provisions could pave the way for the use or seizure of public and private property without the owners’ consent or compensation, in the absence of a clearly defined legal framework.
On the ground, sources told The Guardian that the council’s High Representative, Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov, has been holding meetings in Cairo with Palestinian officials selected by the council to finalize organizational and logistical arrangements ahead of its planned deployment in Gaza. According to the report, the immunity proposal has not yet been presented to the Palestinian side.
The draft also establishes an independent legal framework operating outside external oversight and the application of international law, prompting criticism from specialists in international legal affairs.
Lawyer Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man described the document as an explicit attempt to avoid accountability, warning of serious consequences should violations or incidents involving civilians occur during reconstruction operations.
According to contractors involved in the planning process, the council also intends to establish a military base for its international forces, along with logistical centers at strategic locations across the Gaza Strip.
The leaked proposal, if implemented, would create a new administrative and legal structure for Gaza that extends beyond existing international frameworks and diplomatic norms. It has raised questions about its legitimacy and the extent to which it would be accepted by Palestinians and the wider international community, particularly as the draft reportedly states that it would require only the signature of the High Representative to enter into force, without the need for bilateral agreements.
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