Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan Moves to Second Phase With a Technocratic Committee

The United States said on Wednesday that it is moving to the second phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict, a stage focused on disarming Hamas, setting up a new technocratic Palestinian administration and rebuilding the territory, CBS News and NBC News reported.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the step on X, saying the phase would move from the initial ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction. He said the United States expects Hamas to immediately return the body of the final dead hostage, and warned that “failure to do so will bring serious consequences,” CBS News reported.

Mediators Egypt, Turkey and Qatar welcomed the establishment of the committee and said it would be led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, CBS News reported. A Qatari statement described him as a former Palestinian planning official, NBC News said. CBS News, citing his biography at a Palestinian economic research institute, said Shaath is an engineer and an expert in economic development and reconstruction.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Al Jazeera that the announcement was “an important and positive development” and that the group is ready to hand over administration of Gaza to the committee and to take part in internal Palestinian discussions about its weapons, both outlets reported. The Palestinian Authority also welcomed the development, NBC News said. Disarmament and Gaza’s future governance have been sticking points in earlier talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said returning the last hostage’s remains is a “top priority.” The body is believed to be that of a police officer who was killed after helping people escape the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, CBS News reported.

A ceasefire has largely held since Oct. 10, NBC News reported, though Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violations, and nearly 450 Palestinians have been killed since it began, according to Gaza’s health ministry. All living hostages have been freed and nearly all the bodies of dead hostages have been returned, NBC News said.

The first phase was expected to see Hamas release all remaining Israeli hostages while more aid flowed into Gaza, NBC News reported; about half of Gaza remains under Israeli military control.