Trump Launches Board of Peace. On January 14, President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced the launch of phase two of the Gaza peace plan, saying that it would move “from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.” The following day, President Trump announced the formation of the Board of Peace, which he will chair. The New York Times reported that “a review of the body’s charter…suggested that Mr. Trump hoped the Board of Peace could get involved in all kinds of global conflicts, not just the one in the Gaza Strip.” On January 18, the Associated Press reported that permanent membership on the Board of Peace will be available to those who pay $1 billion. A three-year appointment would not require a financial contribution.
Trump said that he is backing a newly appointed “Palestinian Technocratic Government,” the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The NCAG is expected to oversee day-to-day administration during the transition period and is led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister. Trump also said that a “COMPREHENSIVE Demilitarization Agreement” with Hamas would soon be secured with the support of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar.
The White House named two senior advisors to the Board of Peace: Aryeh Lightstone, who reportedly helped establish the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and Josh Gruenbaum, a senior White House advisor associated with previous plans to turn Gaza into a “Middle East Riviera.” The White House also announced the appointment of US Major General Jasper Jeffers as commander of the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.
On January 16, the White House announced the establishment of two bodies to “operationalize the Board of Peace’s vision” and to manage Gaza’s affairs: an Executive Board and a Gaza Executive Board. The Executive Board is composed of seven members, each assigned a specific portfolio, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, funding, and investment. The members are Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Special Envoy Steve Witkoff; former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan; World Bank President Ajay Banga; and US Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel.
The Gaza Executive Board includes 11 members, four of whom also serve on the Executive Board: Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, and Rowan. Additional members are Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari senior diplomat Ali al-Thawadi; Egyptian General Intelligence Director Hassan Rashad; UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy; Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay; Bulgarian diplomat and former UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nickolay Mladenov; and former senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag.
The White House also named Mladenov as the “High Representative for Gaza,” serving as “the on-the-ground link” between the Board of Peace and the NCAG.
The composition of the Gaza Executive Board prompted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on January 17 to issue a statement saying that the board “was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.”
Also happening in Washington last week…
I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Would Block Funding for UN Agencies That Expel Israel. On January 12, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced H.R.7018, which would block US funding for any United Nations agency that expels Israel.
House Resolution Expresses Support for Iranian Protesters. On January 13, Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) introduced H.Res.993, which expresses support for the Iranian people protesting for a free and democratic Iran. The resolution urges the immediate expansion of unrestricted internet access and civilian communication across Iran and calls on the regime to cease violence against peaceful protesters.
Senate Bill Would Sanction Officials Over Withholding Gaza Aid. On January 14, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced S.3634, which would authorize financial sanctions and visa restrictions against Israeli officials, or officials from any foreign government, for “restricting, undermining, or obstructing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.”
House Passes Finalized FY2026 Department of State Appropriations Bill. On January 14, the House voted to pass H.R.7006, the finalized 2026 Department of State appropriations bill, which includes $3.3 billion in security assistance for Israel.
Other Israel-related provisions include a ban on US funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The bill also withholds 10 percent of the US contribution to the United Nations or any UN agency until the Department of State confirms to Congress that the agency is “taking credible steps to combat anti-Israel bias.”
The bill allocates $1.65 billion for Jordan, including $845 million in budget support for the government and $425 million in military assistance. It provides $1.425 billion for Egypt, of which $1.3 billion is military aid.
Senate Resolution Calls for Continued US Leadership on Religious Freedom. On January 14, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) announced the introduction of a resolution “expressing the need for the United States’ continued leadership on matters of religious freedom.” Countries called out in the resolution for having “patterns of violations of varying degrees of religious freedom” include Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
SFRC Expresses Solidarity with the Iranian People. On January 13, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released a statement expressing solidarity with the people of Iran.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Call on Administration to Continue Condemning Iranian Regime’s Crackdown on Protesters. On January 14, Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) led 58 other bipartisan lawmakers in a letter to Secretary Rubio urging the Department of State to continue to condemn the Iranian regime’s violent repression of peaceful protesters.
Top HFAC Democrat Warns Against US Military Strikes on Iran. On January 15, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) issued a statement urging the Trump administration not to undermine Iran’s protest movement by using military force and warning of potential Iranian retaliation and broader regional escalation.
Graham Says He May Rethink US Ties with Gulf States Over Iran. On January 15, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned that he would be “[dramatically] rethinking” the nature of the US alliance with Gulf states if they “intervened on behalf of Iran to avoid decisive military action” by President Trump against the Iranian regime. Graham made the remarks in response to reports that Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia last week urged Trump not to strike Tehran over concerns about regional instability.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Says Iran Is Stopping Its Killings of Protesters. On January 12, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that any country doing business with Iran would pay a 25 percent tariff on business conducted with the United States. On January 13, Trump said on Truth Social that he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops and stated that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
The following day, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said that “the killing in Iran is…stopping.” When asked whether US military action was now off the table, Trump said that “we’re going to watch and see what the process is, but we were given a very good statement by people that are aware of what’s going on,” without specifying what the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that some US personnel at Al Udeid Air Base were advised to evacuate by January 14.
On January 17, Trump said in remarks to Politico that “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” calling Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.”
Trump Says He Is Ready to Restart Mediation in Dam Dispute Between Egypt and Ethiopia. On January 16, Trump sent a letter to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi offering to resume US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. In the letter, Trump stated that the United States “affirms that no state in this region should unilaterally control the precious resources of the Nile, and disadvantage its neighbors in the process.”
2) Department of State
United States Signs Advanced Technologies Declaration with Qatar and UAE. On January 12, Qatar and the United States signed the ‘Pax Silica Declaration’ to enhance cooperation in advanced technologies and supply chain security. On January 14, the United Arab Emirates also signed the declaration.
Trump Administration Designates Three Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations. On January 13, the Department of State designated the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and its secretary general, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, as an SDGT. Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood as SDGTs on the basis of their “material support to Hamas.”
Trump Administration to Suspend Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries. On January 14, the Department of State announced that it would suspend the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries. According to the statement, the move is intended to discourage immigration from countries “whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” Countries affected include Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.
Department Approves Military Sale to Kuwait. On January 14, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait for equipment and services related to sustainment and follow-on technical support for its Patriot air defense program, with an estimated cost of $800 million.
Department Approves Military Sale to Iraq. On January 14, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Very Small Aperture Terminals and related equipment for an estimated cost of $110 million.
United States, Israel Launch Strategic Partnership on AI. On January 16, the United States and Israel launched the Strategic Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Research, and Critical Technologies. According to the joint statement, the partnership focuses on cooperation in artificial intelligence, advanced research, energy, space, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies.
Barrack Welcomes Ceasefire Between Syrian Government and SDF. On January 18, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack released a statement commending both the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces for reaching a ceasefire agreement. Barrack added that “the challenging work of finalizing the details of a comprehensive integration agreement begins now, and the United States stands firmly behind this process at every stage.”
Rubio Speaks with Saudi Foreign Minister. On January 19, Secretary Rubio spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to continue coordination on regional security and stability and the situation in Iran.
3) Department of War
United States, Regional Partners Open New Air Defense Operations Cell in Qatar. On January 12, CENTCOM and regional partners opened a new coordination cell, the Middle Eastern Air Defense – Combined Defense Operations Cell, at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to enhance integrated air and missile defense.
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On January 12 and 14, US forces conducted airstrikes against al-Shabab in Somalia.
CENTCOM Launches Another Retaliatory Strike in Syria. On January 16, US forces conducted a strike in northwest Syria that killed a leader affiliated with al-Qaeda, which CENTCOM said had direct ties to a so-called Islamic State member responsible for the December 13, 2025, attack on US personnel in Syria.
4) Department of the Treasury
United States Imposes Sanctions on Iran Over Crackdown on Protesters. On January 15, OFAC imposed sanctions on several Iranian security officials, including the secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security, accusing them of orchestrating the crackdown on protesters in Iran. The Treasury also sanctioned 18 individuals accused of laundering proceeds from Iranian petroleum and petrochemical sales through “shadow banking” networks tied to sanctioned Iranian financial institutions.
Concurrently, the Department of State imposed sanctions on Iran’s Fardis Prison, where the department said women have “endured cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.”
Treasury Targets Houthi Smuggling and Procurement Networks. On January 16, OFAC sanctioned 21 individuals and entities and identified one vessel linked to Houthi oil transfers, weapons procurement, and financial services. Those designated include front companies and facilitators based in Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
