The Trump administration is expected to announce on Wednesday that the United States is moving to the next phase of its plan for Gaza, including the appointment of 15 members to a temporary Palestinian committee that will oversee the territory, according to U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
The decision follows the relative stability of the ceasefire, which has largely held despite isolated violations, and the return by Hamas of all hostages except one: the body of Israeli soldier Sgt. first class Ran Gvili. U.S. officials told the newspaper that the conditions now allow a shift from halting the conflict to establishing governance and beginning reconstruction in Gaza.
About two weeks ago, President Donald Trump met with Gvili’s family at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and pledged to bring him home. However, Trump did not promise to delay the transition to the next phase of the plan until Hamas returns the remaining body.
Trump now intends to proceed with the plan despite Hamas’ failure to do so. His ambitious proposal to rebuild Gaza, including transforming it into what he has described as a prosperous Middle Eastern “Riviera,” continues to face widespread skepticism. A central reason is that Hamas has not agreed to disarm, one of the core conditions of the peace plan unveiled last October.
Members of the body to be known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza will be technocrats responsible for the enclave’s day-to-day management, including sanitation, infrastructure and education. U.S. officials said Nickolay Mladenov, the former United Nations special coordinator for Middle East peace and a former Bulgarian foreign minister, will be appointed as the new senior representative of a Trump-led Peace Council and will oversee implementation of the plan. Mladenov is expected to serve as a liaison between the Palestinian technocratic panel and the Peace Council.
The Peace Council, expected to include about 12 members, will provide high-level guidance on Gaza-related issues. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the council would be made up of “the most important leaders of the most important countries,” though he did not name them. The forthcoming announcement is also expected to outline how the administration plans to turn war-damaged Gaza into a place safe for residents before advancing plans to develop it into what officials have described as a Middle Eastern high-tech Riviera. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, led the development of the plan.
The administration has not yet announced which countries will participate in a proposed International Stabilization Force, made up of foreign troops intended to maintain order in Gaza. U.S. officials said details would be released at a later date. Behind the scenes, the creation of the force has faced significant obstacles. Countries expected to contribute troops have expressed concern about being perceived as an occupying force and about the risk posed by Hamas, which remains heavily armed and could target foreign soldiers. Senior officials told The Wall Street Journal that Hamas’ continued strength has slowed reconstruction efforts and hindered attempts to establish a governing structure independent of the group.
Despite those challenges, Trump administration officials say they expect Hamas to eventually lose power and make way for a new governing framework in Gaza. Hamas said Sunday that it would dissolve its current government once the technocratic committee assumes its duties.