US envoy Steve Witkoff has announced the start of phase two of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, with a technocratic Palestinian government established in the territory.He said the second phase would also see 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,” he warned, noting these include the return of the body of the last dead Israeli hostage. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”Under phase one, Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire in October, as well as a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and an aid surge.Following the US announcement, regional mediators Egypt, Gaza and Turkey welcomed the formation of what they called the “Palestinian Technocratic Committee to Administer the Gaza Strip”, saying it would “contribute to strengthening efforts aimed at consolidating stability and improving the humanitarian situation”.They also revealed that the 15-member body would be headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy planning minister in the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control.The transitional administration will operate under the supervision of a “Board of Peace”, which will be chaired by Trump, according to the 20-point plan he unveiled three months ago.Announcements related to the board are expected in the coming days, including when the president visits the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who has been meeting Israeli and Palestinian officials, is set to be the board’s representative on the ground in Gaza.Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas and its ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said in a joint statement that they had agreed to support the efforts to form the technocratic Palestinian government “while providing the appropriate environment” for it to begin work.The PA – which is dominated by Fatah, Hamas’s rival – also expressed its support. Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh said Tru …
