US envoy Steve Witkoff has announced the start of phase two of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, with a technocratic Palestinian government established in the territory.
Under phase one, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in October along with a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and an aid surge.
Witkoff stated that phase two will also include the reconstruction and full demilitarization of Gaza, which encompasses the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
He warned, The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, which include the return of the body of the last dead Israeli hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.
However, two key points of phase two could prove problematic. Hamas has previously refused to disarm without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and Israel has not committed to completely withdrawing from Gaza. The ceasefire is presently tenuous, with tensions flaring as nearly 450 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli strikes since it was put in place.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire according to the UN, which has called for an unrestricted flow of essential supplies.
Witkoff described the launch of phase two of Trump's 20-point peace plan as a movement towards demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction in Gaza.
He stated that the new transitional technocratic Palestinian administration, called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), would oversee the demilitarization and reconstruction efforts.
The committee, which consists of 15 members and is headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy planning minister, operates under the supervision of a board of peace led by Trump.
Announcements regarding the board are anticipated to follow, particularly as Trump prepares to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.
Furthermore, an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) is slated to be deployed in Gaza to assist vetted Palestinian police forces.
In a statement released earlier, Hamas and its ally, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), expressed their support for the formation of the technocratic Palestinian government, conditional on providing an appropriate working environment.
This sentiment was echoed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) vice-president, who urged all Palestinian factions to rally behind this critical transitional phase.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has communicated to the family of Ran Gvili, the last dead hostage in Gaza, that his return is a top priority.
The hostages' families maintain, There is no phase 2 while Ran Gvili is in Gaza. Phase Rani must come first, reflecting the ongoing complexity of the situation.
With ongoing military conflict in the region, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges and uncertainties.
