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timeThe United States said on Wednesday it was launching The second phase of his bold plan end war Gaza.
The first phase is aimed at ending hostilities and returning the remaining hostages, The bill looks fragile since it took effect in OctoberThe United States has been alarmed by Israeli airstrikes that have killed hundreds and failed to recover the body of the last Israeli hostage.
but Donald TrumpSpecial envoy Steve Witkopf insisted it was It’s time to step up and establish a “transitional technocratic Palestinian government” Gaza” to advance disarmament and reconstruction efforts.
U.S. officials immediately extended invitations to those who wanted to serve on the “peace council” that will temporarily govern Gaza, but declined to name those on the president’s recommended list, they said.
british prime minister Keir Starmer According to reports, he is said to be one of the members who was offered the job alongside the former Labor leader Tony Blair It is expected to join a separate committee.
Questions surrounding the future remain HamasIt welcomed the new government but refused to lay down its arms.
What does phase two mean?
The first phase of the peace plan focuses on immediate priorities: ending the conflict, repatriating hostages and delivering massive humanitarian aid to Gaza. The second phase focuses on rebuilding the troubled Gaza Strip.
Hamas agreed in October to hand over governance to a committee of technical experts. There was no sign this week that the company planned to renege on that pledge.
But the armed group has yet to commit to giving up its weapons. It is unclear how Hamas will disarm as the plan calls for. Hamas has regrouped since a fragile ceasefire began in October.
According to a 2024 UN report, once the new interim government is in place, it will be tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza, a task that will last until at least 2040 and may continue for decades.
The United Nations Development Program estimated in October that two years of war had produced at least 55 million tons of rubble and said rebuilding Gaza could cost up to $70 billion.
Trump acknowledged in October that the phases “all kind of blend into each other.” “We can mess with them in a positive way,” he said.
Who will be involved in running Gaza?
The original plan described a “technocratic and apolitical” transitional government to manage the overall running of Gaza. This will be overseen by an international body called the Peace Commission.
According to mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, the government will have 15 members and be led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister who was responsible for developing industrial zones.
Shas said in a radio interview that the committee would first focus on providing emergency relief to Gaza, including housing for displaced civilians.
“If I use bulldozers to push the rubble into the sea and build new islands, new land, I can win new land for Gaza and clear the rubble at the same time. It won’t take more than three years,” Shas told West Bank Radio.
The technocratic body will be overseen by an international “peace council” designed to govern Gaza during a to-be-determined transition period.
Former U.N. Middle East envoy Nikolai Mladenov is expected to represent the Peace Council resident. Other members include people from the private sector and non-governmental organizations, according to a list obtained by Reuters. Witkoff did not say how many members the board would include or name them.
Sir Keir Starmer is among those considering whether to join the board, according to The Sunday Times. British diplomats are still seeking clarification on the role of the committee and its members, British Broadcasting Corporation Reports on Tuesday cited government sources as saying the prime minister had yet to make a decision.
Sir Tony Blair is still being considered for the role, three sources with knowledge of the plans revealed financial times said Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner may join him.
What has been the response so far?
Egyptian and Palestinian sources said Hamas and its rival Fatah, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, had endorsed the list of members of the technical expert committee.
In the West Bank, Palestinian Vice President Hussein Sheikh issued a statement on
Sheikh said Gaza’s institutions should establish links with those run by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, “adhering to the principle of one system, one law and one legal weapon.”
A reporter for the official U.S. briefing said Israel remained “skeptical about Hamas disarmament and the Palestinian people’s desire for peace.” They said it was Washington’s responsibility to bridge the divide.
“The goal is to create an alternative to Hamas, which wants peace, and figure out how to empower them,” the official said.
“Now that we have this government, we will have conversations: with Hamas about the next phase, which is demilitarization; and with Israel about what amnesty programs can be offered to Hamas if they do that.”
Egyptian sources said talks with Hamas will now focus on the group’s disarmament.
