US declares launch of Phase 2 of Gaza Peace Plan, incl ‘transitional technocratic Palestinian administration’

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday announced the launch of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza in a post on 𝕏. 

“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” Witkoff declared. 

The first phase was initially supposed to end after Hamas freed all living Israeli hostages and returned the remains of those it had murdered.

However, the body of Ran Gvili has still not been returned, and the terror group continues to refuse to lay down its arms and o transfer security control to an international force, as the agreement had stipulated. 

Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.

Phase Two establishes a transitional technocratic…

— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) January 14, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke to the Gvili's parents on Wednesday evening, clarifying that Witkoff’s announcement was a “declarative move” limited to the establishment of a new administration and would “not affect the efforts to return Ran for burial.” 

“The Prime Minister emphasized that the Israeli Government insists that information provided to the mediators by the hostage coordinator and his team be translated immediately into effective actions on the ground. Hamas is required to meet the terms of the agreement and make a 100% effort to return all fallen hostages, down to the very last one – Ran Gvili, a hero of Israel.” 

Witkoff said that Phase 2 would include the establishment of “a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel.” 

He did not detail how the U.S. envisions the demilitarization to be accomplished, other than to note that Washington “expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage,” reiterating the threat that “failure to do so will bring serious consequences.” 

Witkoff also thanked Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar for their “indispensable” mediation which he said had “made all progress to date possible,” listing the delivery of “historic humanitarian aid,” the continuation of the ceasefire (without mention of numerous violations by Hamas) and the return of “all living hostages and the remains of twenty-seven of the twenty-eight deceased hostages,” without mentioning Gvili by name. 

According to initial reports, the NCAG will include several members with ties to the Palestinian Authority, despite previous Israeli objections to the PA’s involvement in the government of the Gaza Strip. Its exact composition has not yet been officially confirmed. 

Nevertheless, Hussein al-Sheikh, who was designated the PA’s deputy chairman and is widely seen as its likely next leader, said that the “Palestinian Presidency welcomes the efforts undertaken by President Donald Trump to complete the implementation of his peace plan. 

The Palestinian Presidency welcomes the efforts undertaken by President Donald Trump to complete the implementation of his peace plan and to carry out United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, including the establishment of the Board of Peace and its executive bodies. In…

— حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) January 14, 2026

His statement also reiterated “the importance of linking the institutions of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and not creating any administrative, legal, or security arrangements that would entrench duplication, division, separation, or fragmentation.” 

The U.S. State Department responded by welcoming the “Palestinian Presidency’s” statement of support, which, Israel Hayom journalist Ariel Kahana noted, was a rare acknowledgement of this claimed title.  

“Al-Sheikh is being recognized by the Americans as representing the ‘Palestinian Presidency.’ This is despite the fact that the Oslo Accords stipulated that the head of the Palestinian Authority is a ‘chairman,’ not a president,” Kahana wrote, noting that “a ‘chairman’ heads an autonomy; a 'president' heads a state. This is therefore a highly problematic American statement, one that Israel must protest.” 

Witkoff’s announcement was also praised by U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who wrote on 𝕏: “Is President Trump’s 20 Pt Peace Plan working? You bet it is! I see the effect every day in Israel! There hasn't been an incoming missile in almost 4 months & today PA VP Hussain al-Sheikh gave appreciation for POTUS Gaza Peace Plan & pledged ongoing support.” 

On the other hand, representatives of hostage families and fallen soldiers blasted the announcement, which came despite repeated Israeli assertions that the ceasefire would not advance to its next phase without Gvili’s return. 

The Tikva Forum, a group representing hostage families that is more hawkish than the mainstream Hostage Families Forum, said the announcement was “deeply troubling and outrageous” and a “blatant violation of the agreement.” 

“It is unacceptable for Hamas to continue controlling the Strip, rearming, and rebuilding itself. The State of Israel has been fighting for two years to strengthen security; moving to the second phase will do exactly the opposite, making another round of fighting in Gaza only a matter of time,” the group stated. 

The Heroism (Gvura) Forum, a group of families of soldiers killed during the war, called on the Israeli government not to “allow the U.S. to force a dangerous reality upon us.” 

“Rehabilitating Gaza without the destruction of Hamas means betrayal of the war’s objectives and of the heavy price that has already been paid. We, families who have lost what is most precious to us, will not allow the reason our sons fought to be forgotten. They did not die so that a terrorist organization could be rehabilitated and grow stronger, but in order to eradicate it,” Gvura said.