Dialogos

Trump Announces Formation of 'Peace Council' for Gaza

Published January 16, 2026, 06:02
Trump Announces Formation of 'Peace Council' for Gaza

Donald Trump announced the formation of a 'peace council' for the Gaza Strip, which will oversee a temporary Palestinian committee of 15 technocrats tasked with managing the daily affairs of the enclave. Ali Saath, a former Palestinian Authority official, will lead the committee, with the primary goal of starting the reconstruction of Gaza after two years of war. Bulgarian diplomat Nikolai Mladenov is being considered to manage the council's operations. The remaining members will come from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. The announcement comes as part of the 'second phase' of the American plan, which focuses on the reconstruction of Gaza. However, the area continues to face severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel, as the borders remain under Israeli control despite the ceasefire agreement. Trump stated that the council members will be announced soon, while US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, emphasized that the plan aims to achieve tangible results for the region.