GAZA — US President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new body called “the Gaza Peace Council”, pledging to dismantle Hamas resistance movement with regional backing as Phase Two of the US-backed Gaza plan begins and Israel continues its violations.
Trump made the announcement through a series of posts on his Truth Social platform. He said he would personally chair the new council, describing it as “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place,” and said it would oversee the next stage of Gaza’s transition.
The US president said the council fully supports the newly appointed Palestinian technocratic government and the Gaza administration committee. He described its members as committed leaders working toward a peaceful future for the besieged enclave.
Also read: A Board for Peace
On security, Trump presented Hamas with two options. He said the resistance movement must disarm voluntarily or face forced disarmament. He added that Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar would support a comprehensive agreement to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and destroy underground tunnels.
Trump again demanded that Hamas immediately meet its obligations. These include returning the last body still held in Gaza and moving forward with disarmament. He did not comment on hundreds of Israeli violations, including a massacre that it committed Thursday night murdering 12 civilians.
The announcement came as Phase Two of the US-backed Gaza plan officially entered into force on Wednesday. According to US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, this phase focuses on reconstruction, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and the training of Palestinian police units.
The Gaza plan first took effect on October 10 last year. Its first phase resulted in a ceasefire.
White House Details New Governance and Security Framework
Meanwhile, the White House welcomed the formation of the National Committee announcing that it will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath. The White House said he will oversee the restoration of public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza, while preparing the ground for long-term governance.
Under Trump’s chairmanship, an Executive Board has been formed to oversee the plan’s implementation. None of the members is Palestinian. They include Secretary Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Sir Tony Blair, Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel.
The White House said each member will manage a specific portfolio, including governance, reconstruction, regional relations, and investment.
Trump also appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers to manage daily strategy and operations.
Former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov will serve as High Representative for Gaza and act as the link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG. He will coordinate governance, reconstruction, and development efforts on the ground.
For security, Major General Jasper Jeffers was appointed commander of the International Stabilization Force.
A separate Gaza Executive Board will support governance and service delivery. Its members include international figures, among them Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Reem Al-Hashimy, Sigrid Kaag, and Nickolay Mladenov.
The White House said the United States will work closely with Israel to implement the plan. The announcement has been criticized as a colonial mandate, with foreign actors dictating the territory’s governance and security.
More appointments are expected in the coming weeks. — QNN
