DaysofPal – US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Wednesday evening the launch of the second phase of former US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip. The new phase includes the establishment of a technocratic administration for Gaza, the start of large-scale reconstruction efforts, and comprehensive disarmament.
Witkoff explained that the second phase centers on forming a transitional Palestinian technocratic administration in Gaza, to be known as the “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.” According to the plan, the committee will oversee a full disarmament process, including the removal of unlicensed individual weapons, while simultaneously initiating broad reconstruction projects across the enclave.
The US envoy stressed that Washington expects Hamas to fully honor all its commitments under the agreement, including the immediate handover of the remains of the last Israeli captive held in Gaza. He warned that any failure to comply with these obligations would result in “severe consequences.”
Witkoff described the first phase of Trump’s plan as having achieved what he called “historic progress,” citing the expansion of humanitarian aid deliveries, the preservation of the ceasefire, the release of all living captives, and the recovery of the bodies of 27 out of 28 deceased captives.
He also expressed US appreciation for the roles played by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, praising their mediation efforts as decisive in achieving the progress made so far.
The announcement follows media reports indicating that the technocratic committee tasked with administering Gaza is nearly ready, pending final decisions on security and policing arrangements.
In the same context, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty announced that an agreement has been reached on the names of 15 members of the technocratic committee that will govern Gaza.
Palestinian factions and political forces have also expressed support for the mediators’ efforts to form the transitional committee and to create suitable conditions for it to begin work immediately in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Abdel Aaty said a consensus had been reached on forming the 15-member administrative committee, expressing hope that it would be officially announced soon. He added that this step would pave the way for implementing the remaining provisions of the agreement and deploying the committee to Gaza to manage civilian affairs.
Israel and Hamas had agreed in October last year to Trump’s 20-point plan, which stipulates that Gaza be governed during a transitional period by a Palestinian technocratic body under the supervision of an international “Peace Council.”
With US backing, Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, killing over 71,000 people and injuring 171,000 others, the majority of whom were women and children, as well as destroying nearly 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.
Israel has continued to delay the implementation of the second phase of the plan, conditioning it on receiving the remains of its last captive in Gaza. Hamas, for its part, has stated that locating and recovering the body may take time due to the massive destruction caused by the war.
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