Overview
- U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Phase Two moves from a fragile ceasefire to demilitarization, a transitional Palestinian technocratic committee and reconstruction.
- U.S. officials confirmed Nickolay Mladenov will serve as the Board of Peace’s representative on the ground, while the board’s full membership has yet to be announced.
- A 15-member National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is being set up to handle daily governance, with Ali Shaath reported as the expected chair and final membership details still pending.
- Hamas welcomed handing over civil administration but has not committed to disarmament, and the U.S. warned of “serious consequences” if the final deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, is not returned immediately.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the step largely declarative, and major issues remain unresolved, including a stabilization force’s mandate, disarmament mechanisms, Rafah’s full reopening, Israeli withdrawals and funding as aid flows continue to fall short of targets.