Deepening US dependency leaves Netanyahu little room to maneuver on Gaza governance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s heavy reliance on US President Donald Trump has left him with no alternative but to accept an invitation to join the “Gaza Peace Board.”

Speaking to the Times of Israel, an Israeli official explained that Tel Aviv supports the concept of Trump’s “Peace Board” in principle. The body is viewed as a potential rival to the United Nations, which Israel has long accused of maintaining a disproportionately critical stance against it.

However, the official noted significant opposition within the government regarding Washington’s decision to appoint senior officials from Türkiye and Qatar to the Gaza Executive Board.

The Gaza Executive Board serves as a branch of the broader “Peace Board” and is poised to play a much larger role in the post-war oversight of Gaza. While the Peace Board itself—composed of heads of state and government—is expected to meet only a few times a year, the Executive Board will handle day-to-day governance.

The Israeli official stated that Tel Aviv is “not in a position” to demand changes to the Executive Board’s structure, as much of Israel’s regional policy depends on the support of the US, which established the influential committee.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official acknowledged that Israel has deepened its dependency on the US at a time when many other nations are attempting to diversify their global alliances.

This dependency has allowed Netanyahu to cultivate a unique relationship with Trump. Since Trump’s return to office, Netanyahu has held six one-on-one meetings with the US president—a global record. A seventh meeting is reportedly scheduled for next month.

However, this proximity has made it increasingly difficult for Netanyahu to say “no” to Trump. While Netanyahu has characterized the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a long-awaited diplomatic achievement, the White House describes it as something that must be “imposed” on the parties involved.

“The dynamic of their [Netanyahu and Trump’s] relationship is very different from that of the previous administration,” the Israeli official said.

The UN has agreed to grant Trump’s “Peace Board” a two-year mandate to oversee Gaza. This development may complicate Netanyahu’s efforts to project Israeli sovereignty over Gaza-related decisions, even as the country navigates an election year.

Netanyahu’s office told reporters that the security cabinet would meet in the coming days to discuss the reopening of the Rafah Crossing. However, from the perspective of the Peace Board, this decision has effectively already been made. Despite Tel Aviv’s insistence on conditions—such as the return of the final Israeli hostages and the disarmament of Hamas—the crossing is set to become fully operational next week.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu acknowledged for the first time that there was a “disagreement” regarding the structure of the Executive Board. However, he sought to downplay the friction, emphasizing that the board is merely a consultative body and insisting that the dispute would not damage relations with “our greatest friend in the White House.”

A US official and a Republican source familiar with the matter said that while there are differences of opinion regarding Gaza, Trump remains keen to avoid public disputes with Netanyahu.

Rejecting the notion of an imbalance in the relationship, a US official told the Times of Israel: “President Trump maintains a close relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu, as evidenced by their frequent meetings and phone calls. Together, they have achieved great things for the region, and the president looks forward to working with him to expand peace.”