The US-backed plan to stabilize Gaza has moved into its second phase, even as key disagreements between Israel and Hamas linger. The main sticking points remain Hamas’s refusal to commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and uncertainty over whether Israeli forces will completely withdraw from the territory.
A new 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, announced Wednesday, is set to oversee Gaza’s day-to-day administration. While this marks a step toward governance, broader political and security questions remain unresolved.
The first phase of the plan, part of a 20-point proposal unveiled by former US President Donald Trump on October 10, focused on halting hostilities, allowing humanitarian aid, and securing the return of hostages held by Hamas and allied groups. All hostages have been returned except for the remains of one Israeli, Ran Gvili.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire through airstrikes, attacks on civilians, and advancing beyond the informal “Yellow Line” separating Hamas-controlled areas from Israeli military zones. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports 451 deaths since the ceasefire began. Israel, in turn, says its operations targeted militants who crossed into restricted zones, and three of its soldiers were killed during the same period.
Aid access remains a major challenge. Humanitarian organizations claim Israel has limited the delivery of assistance promised under phase one, a point Israel denies. Gaza continues to struggle with shortages of food, clean water, medicine, and fuel, with its borders and crossings still under Israeli control.
Phase two places Gaza under the technocratic committee’s administration, supervised by a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump. Mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar appointed Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, to lead the committee. Shaath emphasized that governance will rely on “brains rather than weapons” and will operate independently of armed factions.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the goal of phase two is the “full demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza,” including the disarmament of all unauthorised armed groups. Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas leader, called on the international community to empower the committee and ensure its success, underscoring that the responsibility now rests with the mediators and guarantors.
The second phase represents a cautious step forward, but the path toward lasting peace in Gaza remains uncertain as both political and humanitarian challenges persist.
