Key facts
- The US-backed Board of Peace is 'failing' in Gaza, according to aid chief Athena Rayburn.
- Rayburn stated the Board of Peace has 'functioned to further entrench Israel’s unlawful presence' in Gaza.
- Israel has rejected humanitarian aid items such as scissors, crutches, and prosthetic limbs as 'dual-use'.
- Restrictions on engine oil have increased its price by 45 times.
- The Board of Peace links Israeli withdrawal to the complete disarmament of Hamas.
- 1,303 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since a supposed ceasefire began in October 2025.
Athena Rayburn, executive director of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), has informed the UN Security Council that the US-backed Board of Peace is failing in its mission in Gaza. Established by US President Donald Trump and mandated by the UN Security Council in November, the organization is accused of enabling Israel's obstruction of humanitarian aid and entrenching its presence in the territory.
Rayburn detailed how Israel has rejected essential humanitarian items, including scissors, crutches, wheelchairs, and prosthetic limbs, classifying them as 'dual-use.' Furthermore, specialized medical staff have been barred, and severe restrictions on engine oil have driven its price up by 45 times its normal cost. Even food items like watermelon and onions have been rejected under an unpublished 'humanitarian policy.' Rayburn questioned the Board of Peace's mandate, stating it is being used to violate fundamental Palestinian rights and humanitarian law.
Since a supposed ceasefire began in October 2025, at least 1,303 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. In total, 73,438 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict in October 2023. Israel currently controls over 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicating an intention to increase this to approximately 70 percent.
The Board of Peace has linked any Israeli withdrawal beyond the 'Yellow Line' to the complete disarmament of Hamas. However, Palestinians reject this condition, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal before disarming. The UN's high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, warned of a 'point of no return' if the ceasefire collapses, stating that a resumption of fighting would leave nothing left to rebuild. Mladenov also noted that Hamas has yet to fully meet its commitment to cease all military activities, with ongoing weapon carrying and tunnel work hindering the peace process.