US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has officially announced the launch of the second phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, a move that marks a critical turning point in efforts to stabilize the besieged Palestinian enclave after more than two years of devastating conflict.
According to Witkoff, the second phase centers on three core pillars: the formation of a Palestinian technocratic government to administer Gaza, a comprehensive reconstruction process, and the complete demilitarization of the territory, including the disarmament of Hamas and all other Palestinian factions.
"The United States expects full compliance from Hamas with its commitments," Witkoff warned, stressing that these obligations include the return of the body of the last Israeli hostage killed during the war. "Failure to do so will result in serious consequences," he added.
From Ceasefire to Reconstruction
Under the first phase of the agreement, Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire in October 2025, which included a partial Israeli withdrawal, an exchange of hostages and detainees, and a significant increase in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. While the truce has remained largely intact, it has been repeatedly strained by mutual accusations of violations.
The announcement of the second phase was welcomed by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, which issued statements supporting the formation of what they described as a "Palestinian technocratic committee to administer the Gaza Strip". These countries emphasized that such a body could contribute to stabilizing the territory and improving the dire humanitarian situation.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, expressed hope that the announcement would help solidify the ceasefire and address the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. He stressed the need for all parties to fully implement the agreement, including ensuring unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid and the immediate start of reconstruction efforts to alleviate civilian suffering and restore dignified living conditions.
The US-Led "Peace Council"
Diplomats revealed that leaders of several countries received invitations on Saturday to join a newly established US-led "Peace Council", initially tasked with overseeing the end of the Gaza conflict before expanding its mandate to address other global disputes.
According to an announcement by the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join the US-led "Peace Council" for Gaza. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has said the proposal is under consideration.
The White House announced on Friday the first group of council members, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. According to the White House, President Trump himself will chair the council.
Speaking to Reuters in a recent interview, Trump said: "In my view, it will start with Gaza, and then we will deal with conflicts as they arise."
The initiative has drawn criticism from human rights experts, many of whom argue that US oversight of a non-American territory evokes colonial-era practices. Tony Blair's involvement has also been controversial, given his role in the Iraq War and Britain's colonial legacy in the Middle East. Notably, no Palestinian representatives were included in the initial list of Peace Council members.
Executive Council and Israeli Objections
In addition to the Peace Council, the White House announced the formation of an 11-member "Gaza Executive Council" to support governance and service delivery. Members include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Sigrid Kaag, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy, Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay, and other international figures.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the council was formed without coordination with Israel and contradicts Israeli policy, particularly objecting to Turkey's participation. The Israeli government has not yet provided further comment.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Post Article Comment and Rate This Article
