U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed plans for a technocratic Palestinian body to oversee the administration of the conflict-torn territory in Gaza under a phased U.S. strategy. The initiative, dubbed Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to resolve the Gaza Conflict, focuses on transitioning from a ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction, as announced by Witkoff on social media platform X.
The specifics of how Hamas, which has regrouped during the ceasefire, will be disarmed in accordance with the plan remain uncertain. In October, Israel and Hamas endorsed Trump’s proposal, stipulating that the technocratic entity would be supervised by an international “Board of Peace” to govern Gaza during a transitional period.
On Wednesday, a 15-member Palestinian committee was inaugurated, with Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, appointed as its head. The committee, as per a joint statement by mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, will include individuals from the private sector and NGOs, selected by Nickolay Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy representing the Board of Peace.
While the exact composition of the committee remains undisclosed, further announcements regarding the Board of Peace are anticipated at the Davos, Switzerland meeting. The second phase of Trump’s plan aims at demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, emphasizing the disarmament of unauthorized personnel to ensure compliance with obligations, including the return of hostages by Hamas.
Hamas, despite agreeing to transfer governance to a technocratic committee, has not committed to relinquishing its weapons. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank expressed support for Trump’s Gaza plan, emphasizing the integration of Gaza institutions with those in the West Bank for unified governance.
Despite challenges such as Israeli airstrikes leading to casualties, disagreements over disarmament, and delays in border crossings, Trump is pushing ahead with the plan’s second phase, involving the establishment of the Board of Peace and potential peacekeeping force deployment. The ceasefire initiated under Trump’s plan has resulted in casualties, with over 440 deaths, including at least 100 children, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Hamas leaders and Palestinian factions are engaging in discussions in Cairo to advance to the second phase, focusing on disarmament. Israeli withdrawals from Gaza are contingent on disarmament, while Hamas insists on retaining weapons until the establishment of a Palestinian state. Both Hamas and Fatah have endorsed the committee members’ list, which includes individuals from various sectors and backgrounds.
The United Nations estimates the reconstruction of Gaza will require over $50 billion, with the process expected to span several years and limited financial commitments made to date.