Washington, Jan 16 (.) US President Donald Trump announced the formation of the “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza, months after Israel and Hamas reached a fragile ceasefire following two years of conflict.
As part of Phase Two of his 20-Point Peace Plan to end the Gaza conflict, Trump shifted the focus from a ceasefire to demilitarisation, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States has “officially entered the next phase” of the Gaza peace plan, following what he described as record levels of humanitarian aid delivered during the ceasefire period.
“Since the ceasefire, my team has helped deliver record levels of humanitarian aid to Gaza, reaching civilians at historic speed and scale. Even the United Nations has acknowledged this achievement as unprecedented,” Trump said.
“It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The members of the Board will be announced shortly, but I can say with certainty that it is the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled at any time, any place.”
Almost an hour and a half later, Trump announced that “we have OFFICIALLY entered the next phase of Gaza’s 20-Point Peace Plan,” citing special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“As Chairman of the Board of Peace, I am backing a newly appointed Palestinian technocratic government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, supported by the Board’s High Representative, to govern Gaza during its transition,” he wrote on Truth Social. “These Palestinian leaders are unwaveringly committed to a PEACEFUL future!”
The president said that, with the support of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, the US will secure a “COMPREHENSIVE Demilitarization Agreement with Hamas, including the surrender of ALL weapons and the dismantling of EVERY tunnel.”
“Hamas must IMMEDIATELY honor its commitments, including the return of the final body to Israel, and proceed without delay to full demilitarisation,” Trump continued. “As I have said before, they can do this the easy way or the hard way. The people of Gaza have suffered long enough. The time is NOW. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
US envoy Steve Witkoff announced the formal start of Phase Two of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, confirming that a technocratic Palestinian government has been established in the territory.
Under Phase One, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in October, along with a hostage–prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and a surge in humanitarian aid.
Witkoff said Phase Two would also include the reconstruction and full demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
“The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations,” Witkoff said, noting that these include the return of the body of the final deceased Israeli hostage. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”
The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who worked with Witkoff as a special adviser on the Middle East, praised the announcement.
However, two key elements of Phase Two could prove problematic. Hamas has previously refused to give up its weapons without the creation of an independent Palestinian state, while Israel has not committed to a full withdrawal from Gaza.
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