Washington: The United States on Wednesday announced it is advancing into the second phase of a comprehensive Gaza ceasefire plan that prioritises the disarmament of Hamas, large-scale reconstruction, and the installation of a non-partisan governing body to manage the territory’s recovery.

The transition was confirmed by Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Peace Missions, in a post on the social media platform X. Witkoff stated that the ceasefire deal, brokered by President Donald Trump following two years of war, has moved from a cessation of hostilities toward the establishment of a transitional technocratic government in the enclave.

“Phase Two establishes a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorised personnel,” Witkoff said. He added that the U.S. expects Hamas to immediately surrender the remains of the final deceased hostage as part of its obligations.

The "Board of Peace" Oversight

The new governing committee is part of a broader Trump-led initiative to dismantle Hamas’ 18-year rule. While the specific names of the Palestinian experts have not yet been released, they will be tasked with providing public services to more than 2 million residents.

Their activities will be overseen by a newly created international body known as the "Board of Peace" (BoP). Last Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that veteran Bulgarian diplomat and former U.N. envoy Nickolay Mladenov has been selected as the board's director-general.

Reconstruction and Security Challenges

Despite the diplomatic progress, the plan faces significant logistical and financial hurdles:

  • Disarmament: The process of disarming Hamas and other militant factions remains a high-risk objective that has yet to be fully defined.
  • International Security Force: The second phase relies on the deployment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to monitor the deal, though the specific contributing nations have not been finalised.
  • Funding Gap: The United Nations and World Bank have estimated that rebuilding the shattered enclave will cost at least $70 billion. While $20 billion is required in the next three years alone, global donors have pledged very little of that amount so far.

The ceasefire, reached under Trump’s 20-point plan, took effect on Oct. 10 and successfully facilitated the release of all living hostages during its first phase. However, health officials in Gaza report that more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in sporadic violence and strikes since the truce began.

Hamas leaders stated on Sunday that the group is prepared to dissolve its existing government entities once the technocratic committee is fully operational, though it clarified it would maintain "oversight" to ensure regional stability.

With inputs from AP