US launches second phase of Gaza peace plan/A technocratic government is formed

2026-01-15 10:09:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US envoy Steve Witkoff has announced the start of the second phase of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, with a technocratic Palestinian government established in the territory. Under the first phase, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in October, as well as a hostage-prisoner swap, a partial Israeli withdrawal and an increase in aid.

Witkoff said the second phase would also see the reconstruction and complete demilitarization of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

"The US expects Hamas to fully fulfill its obligations. Failure to do so will have serious consequences ," he warned, noting that these include the return of the body of the last dead Israeli hostage.

However, two key points of the second phase could be problematic. Hamas has previously refused to give up its weapons without the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and Israel has not committed to a full withdrawal from Gaza.

The ceasefire is also fragile at best, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations. Almost 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since it took effect, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry. And humanitarian conditions in the territory remain dire, according to the UN, which has stressed the need for the unrestricted flow of critical supplies.

In his statement, Witkoff stated that with the launch of the second phase of Trump's 20-point peace plan on Wednesday, Gaza was moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction.

"Phase Two establishes a transitional Palestinian technocratic administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel ," he said.

Following the announcement, regional mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey welcomed the formation of what they called the "Palestinian Technocratic Committee to Administer the Gaza Strip," saying it would contribute to efforts aimed at consolidating stability and improving the humanitarian situation.

They also revealed that the 15-member committee would be headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy planning minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control. The interim Gaza administration would operate under the supervision of a "Peace Board," which would be chaired by Trump, according to the 20-point plan he unveiled three months ago.

Announcements about the board are expected in the coming days, including during the president's visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week. Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN envoy for the Middle East, will be the board's representative on the ground in Gaza. Trump's plan says an International Stabilization Force (ISF) will also be deployed to Gaza to train and support vetted Palestinian police forces.

Under Trump's plan, Palestine would take over governance of Gaza once it has completed reforms and is able to do so safely and effectively. /CNA