A leaked draft resolution for the Trump-backed Board of Peace proposes sweeping legal immunity for officials, contractors, and others involved in Gaza reconstruction, prompting questions over accountability and oversight. The document, obtained by The Guardian, outlines a framework that would shield members of the Board of Peace, its administrative office, international forces, contractors, and Palestinian technocrats from "any arrest, detention or legal proceedings" tied to their work in the territory.

Proposed Immunity and Property Access

The draft resolution suggests that the Board of Peace would receive access to public property in Gaza "free of charge". Additionally, it proposes the establishment of an internal mechanism to adjudicate claims involving property damage, injury, or death linked to its operations. This internal system would operate outside of local legal structures, according to the report.

A Board of Peace official rejected the characterization of the draft, stating, "There is no operative resolution or immunity framework of the kind described in your questions." The official dismissed suggestions of "lawlessness or impunity" as "wrong" and insisted that oversight and accountability mechanisms would exist, though specific details were not provided.

Legal Expert Reactions

Legal experts cited in the report expressed significant concern regarding the scope of the proposal. Attorney Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man stated that the draft "looks like an attempt to exempt the board, and all of its personnel, from accountability for potential legal violations." Rutgers law professor Noura Erakat warned that the framework could create "a legal system unto itself."

Board Structure and Membership Rules

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced the formation of the Gaza "Board of Peace" to oversee post-war governance and reconstruction. The board is intended to supervise a Palestinian technocratic committee handling daily administration, alongside a proposal for an international force to secure the territory. A draft charter indicated that countries would need to contribute at least $1 billion to gain permanent membership. Members would serve up to three-year terms, although top financial contributors could bypass these term limits. As chairman, Trump would control membership invitations and board decisions.