US Announces Start of 'Second Phase' of its Gaza Plan

Washington announced tonight the start of the “second phase” of its plan for Gaza, with the main goal of demilitarizing Hamas. According to US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, the second phase includes the formation of a committee of Palestinian technocrats who will take over the governance of the enclave. Witkoff stated that the US expects full compliance from Hamas, including the immediate return of all hostages. He warned that in case of non-compliance, there will be serious consequences. The announcement was made via a post on the X platform. The second phase of the plan, beyond the formation of a transitional government, envisages the complete demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza. Details on how these goals will be implemented, as well as the timeline, have not been clarified. The announcement comes at a critical time, as the situation in Gaza remains unstable and efforts to achieve peace have failed. The success of the plan largely depends on the cooperation of Hamas and the provision of adequate financial assistance for the reconstruction of the enclave.