Feb. 24—U.S. President Donald Trump opened the first meeting of the Board of Peace for Gaza (BOP) on Feb. 19 in Washington, with one hour of largely extemporaneous comments, which was followed by short, prepared remarks from representatives of some of the 27 countries that have joined. As usual, the U.S. President praised himself effusively for his success in “ending wars” and in setting up the BOP, of which he made himself chairman for life. Contrary to the fears of many, Trump claimed that the institution is not meant to replace the United Nations.

But most telling of his intention for the new body was his repeatedly citing his success in returning Israeli hostages to their country, without mentioning—even once—the killing of tens of thousands of women and children in Gaza. It should be noted that Palestine is not represented on the BOP, although Israel is.

During their remarks, some of the representatives hinted that Israel’s persistent violations put the reconstruction of Gaza into jeopardy. For example, the Egyptian representative said Israel’s annexation of the West Bank must be rejected and that there must be self-determination and statehood for Palestine, and the Qatari official argued for “fairness and justice for both Palestinians and Israelis.” The Turkish representative did point out that violations of the ceasefire continue, which need to be dealt with promptly, and that a two-state solution is the foundation of a durable resolution.

However, nothing Donald Trump said reflected any such reality. He simply identified that Hamas must comply with disarming, and, “If they don’t, it’ll be harsh.”

Even more telling were the comments by the infamous former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of the BOP’s Executive Committee, who presented the plan to build a luxury “Riviera” on top of a Gaza reduced to rubble. London’s The Telegraph quoted him: “As President Trump recognized, [Gaza’s] potential has always been vast. Twenty-five miles of Mediterranean coastline, proximity to great regional and global markets and a young, dynamic population with a median age of 19.” Blair went so far as to blame the problems in Gaza on “corrupt and extremist governance,” without once mentioning the role of Israel in the genocide and destruction.

Blair was followed by Israeli real estate billionaire Yakir Gabay, who continued with the Riviera scheme, repeating that “the Gaza coastline is 26 miles long. It can be developed as a new Mediterranean Riviera with 200 hotels and potential islands.”

Blair asserted that the Board would lay out reforms by which to “rebuild Gaza for Gazans.” Gaza’s governance, education system, and businesses are to be “revamped” according to the British oligarchs’ “private vices, public good” economic system, in his view. “Whether you’re a Muslim, Jew, Christian, of any faith or none, you can rise by your own efforts and feel your government by your side, not on your back. That,” Blair said, “is the vision behind President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, and it remains the best, indeed, the only hope for Gaza, the region, and the wider world.”

Many of the 60 nations that were invited to join the BOP have either refused or have delayed their response indefinitely. The Vatican is one state that declined the invitation. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was blunt, calling it “a colonialist operation.”