The United States announced this Wednesday (01/14/2026) the start of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip, which contemplates the demilitarization of the Palestinian enclave and the establishment of a technocratic government without the presence of Hamas.
“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we announce 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,” Steve Witkoff, special emissary of the US president, declared on social media.
Witkoff, negotiator of the plan, explained that this phase provides for the creation of a transitional technocratic Palestinian government, called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, as well as the total demilitarization and reconstruction of the enclave, in addition to the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel. “The United States expects Hamas to fully comply with its obligations, including the immediate return of the last deceased hostage. Failure to do so will have serious consequences,” he warned.
The first phase of the plan, begun in October, included the implementation of a ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
Committee creation
Hours before Washington’s announcement, the Egyptian government announced that a consensus had been reached among all parties on the names of the members of the Palestinian technocratic committee of between 15 and 18 people, in charge of administering the Gaza Strip within the framework of Donald Trump’s plan.
“We hope that, after this agreement, the committee will be announced soon and then deployed in the Gaza Strip to manage daily life and essential services,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty at the end of talks on the issue held in Cairo.
The 20-point program presented in October by the US president, after two years of war, provides for this transition committee to govern the Palestinian territory under the supervision of a Peace Council, chaired by the president of the United States himself.
A Hamas official indicated that, once an agreement is reached, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should issue a presidential decree officially establishing this committee. Two names are circulating to lead the committee: Ali Shaath, former Deputy Minister of Planning of the Palestinian Authority, and Majed Abu Ramadan, current Minister of Health and former mayor of Gaza, this official said in statements to AFP.
(mn/afp, efe)
