Steve Witkoff on Wednesday announced the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian body that will play a role in administering the war-ravaged territory under a phased US plan for Gaza’s future.
– “Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” Witkoff said
– It remains unclear how Hamas, which has regrouped since a fragile ceasefire began in October, will be disarmed as required by the plan.
– Israel and Hamas signed off in October on Trump’s plan, which says that the technocratic body will be overseen by the international “Board of Peace” that is meant to govern Gaza for a transitional period.
– The 15-member Palestinian body launched on Wednesday will be headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Western-backed Palestinian Authority who had been in charge of developing industrial zones.
– Other members tapped by Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN Middle East envoy who is expected to represent the Board of Peace on the ground, include people from the private sector and NGOs.
– Witkoff did not say how many members the body would include or name them.
– Another announcement related to the Board of Peace was also expected to be made at Davos next week.
– Along with setting up the Palestinian body, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), Witkoff said in his post that phase two of Trump’s plan “begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized 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,” Witkoff added.
– Hamas, which has so far not agreed to lay down its weapons, agreed in October to hand over governance to a technocratic committee.
– it has previously said that other matters, including the future of Gaza and Palestinian rights, should be addressed within “an inclusive Palestinian national framework, of which we will be an integral part and to which we will contribute with full responsibility.”
– In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority welcomed Trump’s effort to move ahead with the Gaza phased plan.
– Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh said institutions in Gaza should be linked to those run by the PA in the West Bank, “upholding the principle of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon.”
– Hamas leaders and other Palestinian factions are in Cairo for talks on the second phase, the group said, where members of the technocratic Palestinian committee were expected to meet with Mladenov.
– Egyptian sources said talks with Hamas would now focus on the group’s disarmament.
– Further Israeli withdrawals within Gaza are tied to disarmament, though Hamas says it will only give up its weapons once there is a Palestinian state.
– Hamas and its rival Fatah group, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, have both endorsed the list of members.
– It will also include the head of the Gaza Chamber of Commerce, Ayed Abu Ramadan, and Omar Shamali, who has worked for the Palestinian Telecommunication Group PALTEL.