World Bank chief joins proposed interim governance body as US plans temporary oversight of Gaza
January 17, 2026: The White House has announced the formation of a “Board of Peace” as part of US President Donald Trump’s plan to oversee the temporary governance of Gaza, amid continued violence in the region despite a fragile ceasefire that came into force in October. President Trump is set to chair the proposed board, which is expected to supervise interim administrative arrangements for Gaza under the US plan. While the full mandate of the body has not yet been detailed, the move has drawn global attention given the ongoing instability in the territory.
Among the prominent members of the Board of Peace is Ajay Banga, the Indian-origin President of the World Bank Group. His inclusion has sparked interest due to his international stature and experience in development finance. Banga, who became the 14th President of the World Bank Group in June 2023 after being nominated by then US President Joe Biden, has focused on reforming the institution to make it faster, more efficient and more impactful, with an emphasis on scalable development solutions.
Born in Maharashtra and educated at St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and IIM Ahmedabad, Banga has had a distinguished global career spanning business and public service. Before joining the World Bank, he served as CEO of Mastercard, where he founded the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and later as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. His contributions have earned him several international honours, including India’s Padma Shri, underscoring the significance of his appointment to the proposed Gaza governance board.