• US sets sights on total demilitarisation, reconstruction
• 15-member body, supervised by ‘Board of Peace’, to manage the enclave
• Ex-UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov tipped to head board
CAIRO: US President Donald Trump’s envoy said on Wednesday that a plan to end the Gaza war was now moving to Phase Two with a goal of disarming Hamas, despite a number of Israeli strikes during the ceasefire.
“We are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarisation, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” envoy Steve Witkoff wrote on X.
The second phase will also include the setup of a 15-person Palestinian technocratic committee to administer post-war Gaza. Its formation was announced earlier on Wednesday by Egypt, a close US ally and mediator.
Phase Two “begins the full demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorised personnel.
“The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences,” he said.
Israel and Hamas in October signed off on Trump’s 20-point plan, which mandates that a technocratic Palestinian body overseen by an international “Board of Peace” is meant to govern Gaza for a transitional period. Trump is moving to the second phase of the plan despite significant obstacles. The first phase has been shaken by issues including Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that have killed hundreds, a refusal by Hamas to disarm, the remains of one last Israeli hostage still not returned, and Israeli delays in reopening Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Hamas officials said earlier in the day that the group had opened talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on the committee, which forms part of Trump’s truce plan for Gaza.
“We hope that following this agreement, the committee will be announced soon... and will then be deployed to the Gaza Strip to manage daily life and essential services,” Abdelatty said.
The majority of the Palestinian factions offered their support to the committee after Abdelatty’s announcement.
In a statement, the factions including Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they had agreed “to support the mediators’ efforts in forming the Palestinian National Transitional Committee.
Potential committee heads
Separately, the Hamas delegation was also to hold talks in Cairo with leaders of other Palestinian factions on “political, national and field developments” and the state of the Gaza ceasefire, the official added.
Talks with Egyptian mediators were also focused on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the reopening of the Rafah crossing, the entry of aid currently stockpiled on the Egyptian side of the border, and preparations for launching the second phase of the ceasefire plan, the official said.
The Trump proposed Board of Peace is expected to be led on the ground by former UN diplomat and politician Nickolay Mladenov, who has recently held talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2026
