Trump set to unveil new Gaza governing structure by Christmas
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump is preparing to announce the second phase of his Gaza stabilization plan and introduce a new governance structure for the enclave. These initiatives may be presented before Christmas, Axios reports.
According to the outlet, citing several sources directly involved in the process, one of the key elements of the first phase of the agreement — the release of all hostages, both alive and deceased — is almost complete.
An Israeli delegation met on Thursday with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to discuss the return of the remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, who is being held in the Gaza Strip.
According to the report, the Trump administration wants to move to the second phase of the Gaza peace process to avoid a return to war.
As Axios notes, after the announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on October 11, 366 Palestinians were killed as a result of Israeli strikes, and several Israeli soldiers were killed following Hamas attacks.
The second phase of the agreement provides for Israel to withdraw most of its troops from the Gaza Strip, the deployment of International Stabilization Forces (ISF) in the enclave, and the launch of a new governance structure, including a peace council led by Trump.
Under the proposed structure, an international executive council will be formed to oversee a Palestinian technocratic government comprising 12–15 individuals, not affiliated with Hamas, with management and business experience.
By the end of the month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Donald Trump to discuss the next phase of the Gaza agreement.
Peace agreement between Israel and Hamas
On October 8, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas, following negotiations in Egypt, had agreed to the first phase of his proposed peace plan.
Two days later, the ceasefire came into effect. Israel withdrew its forces to the buffer zone around Gaza, and Palestinians began returning to their homes.
On October 13, the leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Türkiye signed an agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh to end the war in Gaza, acting as mediators between Israel and Hamas.
Under the agreement, Hamas committed to releasing all hostages held since 2023, as well as handing over to Israel the bodies of captured individuals who had been killed.
Meanwhile, Hamas militants repeatedly violated the ceasefire arrangements in the Gaza Strip, causing renewed escalation and raising doubts about the continued adherence to the truce.
