WASHINGTON — The White House announced the start of “Phase Two” of President Trump’s Gaza peace process Wednesday — despite Hamas refusing to disarm.
The administration entered the new phase announcing that members of a “technocratic” transitional government have been picked to rule the Gaza Strip under the supervision of a Trump-chaired Board of Peace.
Invites were sent Wednesday to countries joining the Board of Peace, but they were not immediately identified, nor were incoming members of the interim government.
“The goal here is to create the alternative to Hamas that wants that peace and to figure out how to empower them,” an official told reporters.
The major announcement came despite Israeli resistance to advancing to the second phase due to the failure of Hamas and allied groups to locate the remains of the final hostage taken on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israeli policeman Ran Gvili is believed to have died in the Hamas massacres that sparked the war. The failure to deliver his remains had cast uncertainty on the Trump-negotiated pact.
The phase two unveiling did not include a list of countries that have committed troops to participate in a proposed International Stabilization Force due to help prop up the interim leaders.
The Trump administration acknowledged that Israel doubts that Hamas will disarm and hand over power, but one negotiator described a process that could be more nuanced than a complete surrender.
“There’s a general concept, which is number one, the terror infrastructure that’s been built in Gaza will be destroyed,” this person said.
“Number two, that the heavy weaponry, like RPGs and rocket launchers and missiles, those need to be put into a place where they’re not being used to defend against Israel or do offensive raids or attacks on Israel.”
Administration officials did not specify any responsibilities that the incoming officials would assume. Hamas continues to control heavily populated coastal areas.
The transitional governing body, called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), was “blessed by all the different factions,” one US negotiator said, and the names of the new officials are expected to be released later this week.
“The Palestinian Authority and all the different Palestinian factions blessed the selection of this group. This group was very carefully vetted and selected with close collaboration from the mediators in Qatar, Turkey, Egypt and the UAE and Bahrain and Morocco,” he said.
Here’s the latest on the Gaza cease-fire deal
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the start of “Phase Two” in a statement.
“Phase Two establishes a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel,” Witkoff said.
“The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”
The first phase of the peace deal ended large-scale fighting in October, followed by Hamas releasing all living hostages and Israel pulling back troops from heavily populated areas.
Trump has threatened that Hamas will be forcibly removed from the Gaza Strip by regional troops if it does not voluntarily disarm.
