The White House announces with great fanfare that Gaza for the Palestinian strip, signed on October 10 by Israel and Hamas. He promised it for Christmas, so it is late, but the worst thing is that it passes the screen without having completed the task of phase 1: the truce is violated daily by Tel Aviv, both by armed actions and by limitations in the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Their roadmap, which aims to rebuild the area devastated by war and remodel everything, incidentally, they have a new announcement this morning: the president of the United States, has confirmed that he has already formed the Peace Board, the body that will supervise the future technocratic Government of Gaza. Thus, in its own style, it has avoided giving the names of its members, who “will be announced soon.”
Over the months, it seems to be confirmed that it will not be commanded by the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a figure that generates enormous sting in the region. Above the chosen one, Washington points out, will be Trump, as he already confirmed when announcing the agreement, along with the Israeli Prime Minister. Trump already said it: he will command it whenever he has time. “I’m very busy,” he said with disdain, like someone who takes on his back a task he doesn’t like because the others aren’t worth it.
“It is a great honor for me to announce that the Peace Board has been formed. The members of the Board will be announced soon, but I can say with certainty that it is the most prominent and prestigious Board ever convened at any time or place,” Trump wrote in a brief message on his Truth Social network that does not add any further details on the matter.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, , broke the news on Wednesday, in a brief post on But the announcement included few details about the new Palestinian committee or other key aspects of the plan, indicating how much work remains ahead. Next week, at the Davos Forum (Switzerland), the US president is expected to be more specific.
By dropper
For now, Trump has barely referred to two things and above: the international mission that must support peace and the role of , the party-militia that has commanded Gaza since 2007.
In about two weeks, says the Republican, more information will be published about the member countries of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), the UN contingent that must guarantee the future security and demilitarization of Gaza, as stipulated in the .
And in the same publication on networks, he states that he is convinced that “a comprehensive demilitarization agreement with Hamas will be achieved, which will include the delivery of all weapons and the dismantling of all.”
The tycoon added that since the ceasefire, his team has contributed to the delivery of record levels of humanitarian aid to Gaza, reaching the civilian population at a historic speed and scale. Again, no data.
Phase 1 is not complete
If successful, this plan would allow the reconstruction of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision, the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world, and the creation of a possible path to Palestinian independence.
But if the deal stalls, over the next few years, with Hamas maintaining control of parts of the territory, the Israeli Army imposing an indefinite occupation and its residents stuck, homeless, unemployed, unable to travel abroad and dependent on international aid to stay alive.
“We will do everything we can to see if we can collaborate with the Palestinian people and try something new,” a US official told the agency, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the plan under development. “It will be difficult,” he acknowledged.
Below we take a closer look at the next stages of the ceasefire and its potential dangers.
The ceasefire came into effect on October 10, ending two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas. It also included the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel.
The ceasefire has largely held, although both sides accuse each other of continued violations. Israeli fire has killed more than 400 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Israel claims to have attacked militants or responded to ceasefire violations, but Palestinians say dozens of civilians have been shot.
Meanwhile, Palestinian militants continue to hold the remains of the last hostage: an Israeli police officer killed in the , which sparked the war. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has made clear that he is in no rush to move forward until the remains are recovered.
Netanyahu appeared to downplay Witkoff’s announcement, considering it symbolic, and called the creation of a new Palestinian committee a “declarative act.”
Gazans try to get a hot meal, distributed by charities, in the Nuseirat refugee camp, on January 12, 2026.
What will the new Government be like?
The new committee will be made up of independent Palestinian experts who will manage the daily affairs of Gaza under American supervision. Wednesday’s announcement did not specify who will serve on the committee. However, the other mediators of the ceasefire – Egypt, Turkey and Qatar – indicated that it would be led by Ali Shaath, an engineer and former deputy minister of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said other names are expected in the next two days and that the committee will focus on attracting investment and improving quality of life. “This will really be a technocratic committee,” he said. “It seems to be a group that seeks peace.”
“This will really be a technocratic committee. It seems to be a group that seeks peace”
The committee will report to the Peace Board, a group of world leaders that oversees the ceasefire and is led by Trump. If the Palestinian committee is seen as a mere façade, it risks failing to gain public support.
Furthermore, his exact powers remain unclear. Hamas has stated that it will dissolve its government once the committee takes office, but has shown no signs of dismantling its military branch or its security forces.
The Board will oversee the ceasefire, reconstruction and an open reform process by the Palestinian Authority, with the goal that the internationally recognized authority can one day return to Gaza to govern.
The U.S. official said invitations to the meeting have been extended but declined to name any of the people expected to join. “It’s going to be an excellent list,” he said. The key challenge will be forming a board that can work with Israel, Hamas, mediators and international aid agencies.
A key appointment appears to have been made. , a former Bulgarian politician and UN envoy to the Middle East, is expected to be the junta’s representative on the ground. He has already met with Netanyahu and Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank.
Troops to Gaza
Trump’s plan calls for the formation of an International Stabilization Force to maintain security and train the Palestinian police to one day take control. Such a force has not yet been formed and a deployment date has not been announced.
The US official insisted there is “great enthusiasm” for the force and said there will be important announcements in the coming weeks.
But the command structure and authorities of the force remain unknown. Hamas has stated that it will oppose any attempt by the force to disarm it, and contributing nations may not want to risk clashes with the militant group. Israel, for its part, is hesitant to entrust its security needs to an international organization.
The essential reconstruction…
Trump’s plan calls for an economic development scheme to “and energize Gaza,” which suffered widespread destruction during the war and where most of the territory’s 2 million residents are displaced and unemployed.
No such plan has yet been announced and it is unclear who will pay for a process that the UN estimates will cost $70 billion.
…and disarmament and withdrawal
The ceasefire agreement requires Hamas to hand over its weapons under the supervision of international observers. Militants who disarm will receive amnesty and the option to leave Gaza.
However, Hamas, whose ideology is based on armed resistance against Israel, has said it will not disarm until Israel ends its occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told The Associated Press last month that the group is willing to freeze or store its weapons while a political process unfolds, perhaps for many years. It is unclear whether that would be enough for Israel.
Failure to disarm Hamas could lead to new fighting with Israel and clashes with international troops, and could block progress on the rest of the peace plan.
Under the ceasefire, Israel will withdraw from all of Gaza, except for a small containment zone along the border. Currently, Israel maintains control of just over half of Gaza.
The plan says future withdrawals will be based on “standards, milestones and deadlines linked to demilitarization” that will be negotiated by Israel, the United States, the international force and other “guarantors.”
There are no firm timelines for future withdrawals, and Israel could refuse to withdraw further.
Israeli soldiers maintain their tanks near the border with the Gaza Strip, October 29, 2025.
The role of the ANP
The plan calls for a reform of the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, which governs the West Bank, and the creation of conditions for a “credible path” to a Palestinian state.
Palestinian officials say they have begun reforms in key areas such as corruption, the education system and payments to the families of prisoners convicted in attacks against Israelis.
Israel rejects the creation of a Palestinian state and opposes any role for the authority in post-war Gaza. Without a path to statehood, any Palestinian support for the new system could crumble. The plan also does not offer clear parameters or deadlines for the reform process.
