Trump announces move to next phases of his Gaza peace plan
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has announced the implementation of the next phases of his peace plan following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, according to Ukrinform and The Times of Israel.
During a meeting with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, US President Donald Trump said that the stages of his peace plan’s implementation, announced earlier, "intertwine" with one another.
"We’re actually in the third and fourth phases already. It’s not going to be, you know, a clearly divided process; we may already be moving forward on some things we’re still saying we’re going to do," Trump explained.
Appointments to Board of Peace
The president also said that some of the leaders present at the summit would be appointed to the Board of Peace, which will oversee a transitional Palestinian technocratic government responsible for governing Gaza after the war.
"Everybody wants to be on the board of peace. They said, ‘Would you be the chairman?’ I said, ‘I’m pretty busy, too. But whatever we can do to have peace in the Middle East, it’s worth it,'" Trump quips.
Aid for Gaza's reconstruction
The US leader emphasized that for the people of Gaza, restoring the basics of dignified living is now the priority. According to him, “the United States will send major financial resources to Gaza, and a large-scale reconstruction lies ahead.”
"For the people of Gaza, the focus now must be on restoring the basics of a good life. We’re going to have a lot of money coming into Gaza and a lot of rebuilding," Trump continues. "I’m pleased to announce that numerous countries of great wealth and power and dignity have come forward to me just today and over the last week to say they want to help in the reconstruction of Gaza."
He added that all participants agreed Gaza’s aid must go directly to its people, stressing,
"We don’t want to fund anything tied to bloodshed, hatred, or terror, as has happened before."
"We also agreed that rebuilding Gaza is possible only under the condition of its demilitarization and the establishment of a new, honest civil police that ensures safety for residents. For the first time, the Middle East crisis has united people rather than divided them," Trump added.
After his remarks, the president asked the press to leave the room to address the leaders privately.
"We’re going to be drawing some names. If you want to get involved in the Board of Peace, you’ll let us know," Trump says.
Background
Last week, Trump presented a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. It calls for the creation of an international Board of Peace to supervise a Palestinian Administrative Committee governing the enclave.
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas began on October 6 under mediation from Egypt, the US, and Qatar.
On October 9, both sides signed the first phase of Trump’s plan, providing for Israel’s partial troop withdrawal from Gaza and the release of all hostages.
On October 13, Hamas released all 49 Israeli hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, assault and handed over the remains of the deceased.
On Monday, during the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, Trump and leaders of three Middle Eastern countries signed an additional Gaza peace agreement, the contents of which have not yet been disclosed.
