The United States announced on Tuesday the launch of the second phase of President Trump's 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction of the war-ravaged territory. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff made the announcement on behalf of the Trump administration, marking a significant milestone in efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.
The second phase requires the creation of an International Stabilization Force to deploy to Gaza in order to support a Palestinian police force and allow Israel to begin withdrawing from the territory it still occupies. US officials have indicated that Indonesia and Morocco are expected to be the main troop-contributing countries at this stage, though the full list of participating nations has not yet been announced.
Egypt announced the Palestinian technocratic government following a meeting of Palestinian factions in Cairo on Wednesday. The new administration will be headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister of transportation in the Palestinian Authority, and will be responsible for day-to-day governance under American supervision. This represents a fundamental shift away from Hamas's 18-year rule of the Gaza Strip.
President Trump will chair the first meeting of the Board of Peace next week during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The board will oversee the technocratic committee's work and guide the broader reconstruction effort. The identities of board members have not yet been publicly released, but they will play a crucial role in shaping Gaza's future governance structure.
The United States moved to phase two despite Israeli opposition over the lack of progress on Hamas disarmament and the remains of one hostage, Ran Gvili, still being held in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly stated he would not begin talks on the second phase until Gvili is returned. However, Washington has pressed forward, signaling its commitment to the broader peace framework.
The United Nations has estimated that reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will cost more than 50 billion dollars, a process expected to take years. Little money has been pledged so far for the massive rebuilding effort. The plan, announced by Trump on September 29, 2025, was signed on October 9 and came into effect the following day. It was endorsed by the UN Security Council on November 17.
Under the first phase of the three-phase deal, Hamas released all but one hostage it was holding in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. The ceasefire stopped much of the fighting that had devastated the territory. As phase two begins, the international community watches closely to see if this ambitious plan can bring lasting stability to one of the world's most volatile regions.