President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced on Wednesday the launch of phase two of the Gaza plan, which includes the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian administration in the enclave.
Witkoff said the U.S. expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. He warned that failure to meet these obligations would carry “serious consequences.”
The phase two move follows the first stage of the plan, which included a ceasefire and partial hostage release, though it faced delays and continued tensions in the region.
Under the plan, a 14-member Palestinian committee will temporarily govern Gaza. The body will be led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, and will include figures from the private sector, NGOs and security officials. Hamas will not be represented.
The committee was approved by former U.N. envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who is expected to represent the international “Board of Peace” overseeing the transitional governance.
Egyptian officials confirmed the committee, emphasising that Gaza should remain linked with the West Bank under a single legal and institutional framework.
The first phase of the plan, which included a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, faced setbacks including Israeli airstrikes, Hamas’s refusal to disarm, and delays in reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Despite these issues, Trump’s envoy is pressing ahead with phase two.
Hamas and Fatah leaders are meeting in Cairo to discuss the next steps, including the group’s disarmament. Members of the new technocratic committee were scheduled to meet Mladenov in Cairo on Wednesday, with Hamas and Fatah reportedly endorsing the selection.
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank expressed support for the plan, saying Gaza institutions should remain aligned with the West Bank and uphold “one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon.”
Officials also said the plan will include the deployment of international peacekeeping forces, though details remain under negotiation.
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The United Kingdom and the United States are withdrawing military personnel from bases in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, following Tehran’s warning to regional allies that it would target U.S. bases if Washington takes military action.
Germany’s finance minister has urged a new era of “European patriotism” to protect the continent’s economic interests, calling for state-backed companies to retain jobs in Europe and for public spending to prioritise European-made goods.
France is considering the possibility of supplying Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran to help citizens regain internet access after Iranian authorities imposed widespread online blackouts in an attempt to suppress the most severe domestic unrest the country has seen in decades.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
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The United Nations’ top court at The Hague has begun hearings on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. Gambia told judges on Monday that Myanmar targeted minority Muslim Rohingya for destruction and made their lives a nightmare in a landmark case.
President Donald Trump said on Monday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the U.S., as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years.
The United Kingdom and the United States are withdrawing military personnel from bases in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, following Tehran’s warning to regional allies that it would target U.S. bases if Washington takes military action.
Germany’s finance minister has urged a new era of “European patriotism” to protect the continent’s economic interests, calling for state-backed companies to retain jobs in Europe and for public spending to prioritise European-made goods.
France is considering the possibility of supplying Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran to help citizens regain internet access after Iranian authorities imposed widespread online blackouts in an attempt to suppress the most severe domestic unrest the country has seen in decades.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
FBI agents searched the home of the Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, on Wednesday, 14 January, as part of an investigation into the alleged sharing of classified government information.
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