US, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye discuss next phase of Gaza ceasefire
Photo: Steve Witkoff (Getty Images)
On Saturday, December 20, the United States, together with representatives of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, met in Miami to assess the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza and discuss progress toward preparations for the second phase.
This was stated by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff on the social media platform X.
"The first phase has yielded progress, including expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities," the post said.
Witkoff noted that during discussions on the second phase, the parties emphasized the need to establish a unified governing authority in Gaza "under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order."
In addition, the parties discussed measures for regional integration, including the simplification of trade procedures, infrastructure development, and cooperation in the areas of energy, water supply, and other shared resources necessary "to Gaza's recovery, regional stability, and long-term prosperity."
"In this context, we expressed our support for the near-term establishment and operationalization of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration for the civilian, security, and reconstruction tracks of the reconstruction," Trump's special envoy wrote.
He added that the parties reviewed further steps in the phased implementation of a comprehensive peace plan for Gaza, stressing the importance of consistency, coordination, and effective monitoring "in partnership with local Gazan institutions and international partners."
"We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20-point peace plan and call on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements," Trump's special envoy emphasized.
Summing up, Witkoff added that further consultations to advance the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire will continue in the coming weeks.
As a reminder, in early December, Axios reported that US President Donald Trump was preparing to announce a second settlement plan for the Gaza Strip and present a new governance structure for the enclave. According to sources, the relevant initiatives could be announced by Christmas.
We also wrote that, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the second phase of the US plan to end the war in Gaza is very close.
