Almost unnoticed, the US government announced the start of the second phase on Wednesday Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip announced. Instead of a press conference, US special envoy Steve Witkoff told the online service X that the step heralded the “complete demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza”. He envisages the “creation of a Palestinian technocratic administration”. The second phase, which has been expected for more than three months, could bring movement to the stalled negotiations, but leaves many questions unanswered.
The goals of the first phase have only been partially achieved: The ceasefire achieved under pressure from the US government since October 10th has led to the release of all living Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel. Israel’s army withdrew to a “yellow” ceasefire line but continues to control more than half of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks on the coastal strip have decreased sharply, but have not stopped: Around 450 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire beganincluding more than 100 children, according to the UN children’s fund Unicef. Critics fear a situation like this Lebanon, which Israel continues to bomb regularly a year after a ceasefire began.
Aid deliveries have increased sharply, According to aid organizations and Hamas, however, they fall short of what the approximately two million people in the largely destroyed area need. Recently, severe winter storms swept across the coastal strip, where most people live in tents and largely without infrastructure. According to doctors in Gaza, several small children froze to death.
Technocrat Committee and Stabilization Force
For its part, Hamas has only returned 27 of 28 bodies of the Israelis abducted on October 7, 2023. Relatives of the hostages had called on the US not to proceed to phase two. Witkoff called on Hamas to honor its end of the agreement, “including the immediate return of the last deceased hostage,” or face “serious consequences.”
Phase two now provides for more far-reaching steps: based on the 20-point plan from US President Donald Trump A Palestinian technocratic committee is to take over the administration of the Gaza Strip for a transitional period and an international stabilization force is to ensure security. Hamas should give up all of its weapons and the Israeli army should continue to withdraw.
Witkoff did not provide any details about the committee. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had recently announced an agreement on the composition of the 15 members. The committee will be led by Gaza-born Palestinian Ali Shaath, former deputy minister in the Gaza Strip Palestinian Authority. According to the US news portal Axios, all members come from Gaza and are confirmed by the US, Israel and the Palestinian factions including Hamas.
Shaath spoke to the Palestinian radio station Basma about reconstruction plans and emphasized the plight of the people of Gaza, almost all of whom have been displaced at least once within two years. However, he also made it clear that security and coordination with armed groups were not part of his mandate. “There are 15 experts in reconstruction – heads instead of weapons,” said Shaath.
Hamas has so far refused to disarm
But so far Hamas has not agreed to disarm and There have been deadly clashes with rival Palestinian groups since October. Leading Hamas members had made contradictory statements: Khaled Mashal described the weapons as “our people’s right to self-defense.” Bassem Naim was open to “storing” them. Two US officials expressed optimism that the group would agree to demilitarization, according to Axios.
But it is still unclear who will provide the international stabilization force that is supposed to ensure security in the Gaza Strip. Indonesia, for example, is prepared to send soldiers, but insists on a commitment to a future Palestinian state. Israel’s leadership strictly rejects this.
The work of the Technocrats Committee will be overseen by Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian UN diplomat. He was UN special envoy for the Middle East peace process from 2015 to 2020. The 53-year-old, for his part, reports to the “Board of Peace” proposed by Trump, which, in addition to the US President himself, should include international politicians. According to media reports, these will be announced in the coming days.