US launches second phase of Trump’s Gaza peace plan
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The news: The United States has moved to the second phase of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, advancing efforts to transition the territory from a fragile ceasefire to demilitarisation, technocratic governance and reconstruction.
On Wednesday Washington time (Thursday AEDT) US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the launch of the second phase in a post on X, warning Hamas of “serious consequences” if it does not “comply fully”. That includes a requirement to return the final deceased hostage, Israeli policeman Ran Gvili, killed during the 2023 Hamas attacks.
The context: The plan includes the formation of a technocratic Palestinian administration known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which will be led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath to manage daily services such as sanitation, utilities and education.
The NCAG will be overseen by a Trump-chaired Board of Peace, whose members have not yet been named.
Former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov will act as high representative of the board and liaise with the committee, with their first meeting expected Thursday in Cairo, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
Hamas has said it will dissolve its government once the technocratic body takes over, but has given no timeframe. The next phase of the peace plan faces hurdles to bring a lasting peace to Gaza. Hamas has yet to disarm, which US officials told the Journal stymies Gaza’s reconstruction as well as efforts to establish a viable governance structure outside of the group’s influence.
The sources: Reuters, Bloomberg, Steve Witkoff statement
