US Announces Phase Two of Trump Gaza Peace Plan

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Wednesday the launch of the second phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, shifting focus from an initial ceasefire to the demilitarization of the territory, establishment of technocratic governance, and reconstruction efforts.

The announcement came amid ongoing tensions following the ceasefire agreement reached in October, which halted major fighting after Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That assault killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, more than 71,430 Palestinians have died in Israeli military operations in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.

Witkoff, posting on the social media platform X, stated that Phase Two would establish a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration to oversee daily governance in Gaza. This includes the formation of a 15-member committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, announced earlier Wednesday by mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. The committee will be led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, and includes members...