Draft Proposal Grants Broad Immunity to Trump’s Gaza Peace Council Members

According to a report by The Guardian, a draft decision has been prepared to grant extensive legal immunity to members of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s "Peace Council" for Gaza affairs. The council, which has not yet begun its work, would be shielded from arrest and legal proceedings within Gaza. The draft also allows the council to acquire public property in Gaza without payment to support its activities.

The immunity would extend not only to council members but also to additional personnel involved, including Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Palestinian technocrats, international military forces, and non-local contractors working in Gaza. The draft states these individuals would be immune from any arrest, detention, or legal action in Gaza’s courts or other bodies.

However, the draft grants President Trump the authority to revoke immunity from any council member if he determines there is cause to prosecute them. A controversial clause titled "Third-Party Liability/Claims" empowers the council to adjudicate claims related to property loss or damage, as well as bodily injury, illness, or death resulting from its operations in Gaza.

Noura Erakat, a professor of international law at Rutgers University, criticized the proposal in an interview with The Guardian, stating that it effectively removes external oversight, including international law applicable to occupation, creating a separate legal system. This development raises concerns about accountability and legal jurisdiction in Gaza under the council’s framework.