United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East has announced the start of the second phase of a U.S.-backed plan to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Steve Witkoff wrote on social media on Wednesday that Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan is now moving from a ceasefire to steps for demilitarization, governance, and rebuilding.
This second phase will set up a temporary administration to manage the damaged Palestinian territory. It will focus on fully demilitarizing Gaza and rebuilding it, Witkoff said.
“The US expects Hamas to meet its obligations, including the immediate return of the last deceased hostage. Failing to do so will have serious consequences,” he warned.
The Gaza Government Media Office reported that Israel has broken the U.S.-backed ceasefire over 1,190 times since it began in October. These violations have killed more than 400 Palestinians and blocked essential humanitarian aid from reaching the area.
Hamas, which has criticized Israel’s repeated ceasefire violations, did not immediately respond to Witkoff’s announcement.
Al Jazeera reporter Tareq Abu Azzoum, speaking from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, mentioned that Hamas had previously said it was willing to give up day-to-day governance in Gaza as described in the Trump plan.
However, it is still unclear what the new governing body will look like or how it will operate, Abu Azzoum said. He noted that many questions remain about rebuilding Gaza, where over 80 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli attacks.
“The stability of the ceasefire is very important. Any worsening of the situation could delay or even ruin these plans,” Abu Azzoum warned.
Board of Peace
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked to the parents of Ran Gvili. Ran was a police officer in Israel, and his body is still in Gaza. Netanyahu said it is very important to bring Ran back to Israel. He also stated that the plans to create a technocratic committee to run Gaza will not hinder their efforts to recover Gvili.
The US has put forward a 20-point proposal, which includes starting a “Board of Peace” led by Trump. It also suggests sending an “international stabilization force” to ensure security in Gaza.
Last week, Netanyahu announced that former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov will lead this board. This board will oversee the Palestinian technocratic government that governs Gaza.
Gaza Mediators Welcome Technocratic Body
Mediators from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt welcomed the creation of a Palestinian technocratic body led by Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath.
On Wednesday, a statement was released expressing hope that the new committee would help carry out the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The statement said that everyone needs to agree to the plan to help bring peace and rebuild Gaza.
Marwan Bishara, a reporter, is worried about a US plan to stop the fighting. He thinks the plan helps Israel too much. He wonders, “How can it be fair if one side gets more help?”
He also says that people in Gaza are still suffering while President Trump and his team think they are helping. Bishara said that Israel is not interested in leaving Gaza, and he believes the US will not pressure Israel. “I think we will face a long wait for phase two,” he concluded.
The United Nations and major humanitarian organizations in Gaza are asking Israel to allow aid to come in without restrictions. This includes food, supplies for shelter, and equipment to clear debris and rebuild homes. Legal experts say that these restrictions go against Israel’s duty to help meet the needs of Palestinians in the area it controls.
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