The United States has announced the launch of the second phase of the Gaza ‘ceasefire,’ which includes plans to establish a committee of Palestinian technocrats to manage the territory’s daily affairs during a transitional period.
The announcement, made by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, offered few details and said the committee would only begin work once authorised by a yet-to-be-formed peace board chaired by Donald Trump.
Witkoff said the new phase aims to achieve the full demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza, even as Israeli military operations have continued at a reduced level and no agreement has been reached on disarming Hamas.
Egypt later said agreement had been reached on 15 committee members, expected to be technocrats, with the body overseeing essential services in Gaza under international supervision. Talks on the second phase have also addressed Israeli troop withdrawals, reopening border crossings, expanding aid access, and resolving the fate of the last unaccounted-for Israeli hostage, whose return the US says Hamas must secure.
There is considerable scepticism among many observers about the ‘second stage’ plan, with some describing it as window dressing while Israel forces continue to inflict injuries and deaths among Gaza’s civilians, especially women and children.
Netanyahu and Trump on December 29, 2025
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