The Board of Peace’s executive organ and other technocrats will meet in Cyprus next Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss forward steps in implementing Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for lasting peace, stability and reconstruction in Gaza.

Plans to rebuild the strip – demolished almost in its entirety after two years of war with Israel following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack – have stalled considerably amid the US‑Israel war with Iran, which has diverted international attention.

Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis yesterday confirmed that the Board of Peace meeting will take place on the island next week, noting however that Cyprus is not one of the organisers. He added that some officials attending have requested meetings with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos.

The spokesperson reminded that the Board of Peace was established to implement the reconstruction plan for Gaza on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted in November 2025.

Who’s coming

According to the Times of Israel, which first reported on the planned meeting in Cyprus, participants at the gathering will include: “representatives from the Board of Peace umbrella body, the committee of Palestinian technocrats tasked with replacing Hamas in governing the Gaza Strip, and the Office of the High Representative, which coordinates between those two bodies.”

It’s not clear whether the Board of Peace’s core ‘Executive Board’, chaired by President Trump, will attend, or – more likely – the ‘Gaza Executive Board’, along with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) – comprising Palestinian technocrats – and the Board’s High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov.

According to the White House, the NCAG is meant to replace Hamas governance and run day-to-day administration in Gaza during a transitional phase, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance. Mladenov is to act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG, supporting oversight of all aspects of Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and development, while ensuring coordination across civilian and security pillars.

The Gaza Executive Board – established mid-January 2026 to support the High Representative and the NCAG – comprises figures such as Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Tony Blair and Israeli-Cypriot real estate investor Yakir Gabay. No list of participants for the Cyprus meeting has been released.

Likely agenda

Diplomatic sources told Politis that the decision to hold the meeting in Cyprus was the initiative of the Board of Peace. Discussions will likely be held at a technical level, though political elements cannot be avoided in relation to Gaza.

Plans for Gaza’s reconstruction have yet to see any real progress, mainly due to the lack of funding and resources, but also, the precarious and unstable situation on the ground. Numerous countries pledged billions for Gaza in February, with commitments still to be met.

Participants will likely discuss a roadmap for the way forward, linking financial pledges to corresponding funding channels, as well as reviewing the planning and progress of various projects and phases related to the 20-point plan.

Given that the war with Iran dominated national agendas the last few months, the Cyprus meeting could be a chance to see a revival of interest in the process to improve the lives of Gazans who continue to live – without housing – in dire circumstances.

Only game in town

The challenges are great. Israel maintains control over much of Gaza, expanding its presence, continuing strikes in the Strip, and controlling the flow of humanitarian aid, while Hamas controls the remaining area, refusing to disarm under these conditions.

It remains to be seen whether an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) can be set up in the Strip, and if it will gain the trust of both Palestinians and Israelis.

As the diplomatic source put it, implementation of the Gaza plan by the Board of Peace is “the only game in town”. And specifically on Gaza, it is mandated by the UN. Better to have something concrete to work towards and hope that the ambition is commensurate with the needs, rather than nothing, added the source.

Cyprus’ role

President Nikos Christodoulides tabled six proposals addressing eight elements of Trump’s 20-point plan during the Sharm el‑Sheikh summit on Gaza in October 2025. The summit – comprising over 20 leaders – marked the political launch of the post‑war ceasefire and the broader Gaza peace plan, outlining the next phase of reconstruction, governance and security.

Trump set up the Board of Peace, not without controversy, in January 2026. Many countries refused to join, with France pointing to its governance structure – Trump is chair for life – and potential competition with the United Nations as reasons why. Cyprus also found itself between a rock and a hard place, eventually avoiding membership by agreeing to participate in the new body as an ‘observer’.

Cyprus’ six proposals have since been worked on and updated, taking into consideration changes on the ground. They are grouped under three pillars: security, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

The measures reportedly include the following:

· Expanding the Amalthea maritime aid corridor

· Strengthening inspection and security screening mechanisms for cargo bound for Gaza

· Creating two-way sea lanes for reconstruction with extraction of debris out of Gaza and import of construction materials into the Strip

· Training of Palestinian personnel at Cyprus’ CYCLOPS centre

· Providing logistical support to the future international force in Gaza

· Serving as a bridge between EU and region, and a hub for investment and support for Gaza’s recovery.

Depending on who eventually makes it to Cyprus next week and how far discussions go, the country’s role in supporting Gaza’s reconstruction will likely be part of any meetings held with the Cypriot foreign minister.

Marina Hadjimanolis #