The starting signal for the second phase of ceasefire in Gaza by the American president, Donald Trumphas come across Israeli reserves. The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuhas criticized the announcement of the creation of a technocratic committee for the Strip and the publication of its composition as equivalent to a “declarative action”. For the Israeli leadership, this step forward, openly supported by the Palestinian presidencyes symbolic. US officials have confirmed to various media that the invitations to participate in the Peace Board international group that will temporarily govern Gaza were sent this Wednesday, without revealing who its members will be.
Washington has also stated that “in the next 48 hours“will be known names of the members of this committee that will oversee the Government of Palestinian technocrats that is going to be established in the Strip. According to official US sources, the members of the Board have been personally chosen by Trump. For their part, Israeli cabinet ministers met on Tuesday night, a day before the announcement, to receive information about the Trump Administration’s plans for the second phase. In parallel, the different Palestinian factions met in Cairowhere they gave their approval to the Executive of Palestinian technocrats made up of 15 members with the mission of governing the Strip.
Unknowns
Badr AbdelattyEgyptian Foreign Minister, stated that the constitution of the committee will be announced soon. Most of its members are independent professions in Gaza no affiliation to Hamas nor to the Palestinian Authority (AP). Some do have links with Fatahthe party that currently governs the occupied West Bank. Almost all of them have an extensive professional background in economic, public and social institutions of Gazaexperiencing firsthand the horrible consequences of war and humanitarian catastrophe. Many of them continued to hold public office during the months of conflict, in which the Israeli Army devastated more than 70,000 Palestinian lives.
Across the border in Israel, political officials insisted that the move to the second phase, announced by the US envoy Steve Witkoff, does not undermine efforts to advance Israel’s three objectives: the return of the body of the last hostage, the disarmament of Hamas, and the demilitarization of Gaza. For the moment, there are still many unknowns to be revealed, such as, for example, who will finance this technocratic committeeled by the former AP Deputy Minister of Transportation, Dr. Nabil Ali Shaath, or the reconstruction that must take place in this second phase. It is also unclear whether this new administration will enjoy true freedom of action or broad public legitimacy, nor whether it will be able to address the enormous challenges of reconstruction, the economy and restoring public trust after two years of war.
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