Trump Launches Phase Two of Gaza Peace Plan with New Oversight Bodies

On Saturday, January 17, 2026, United States President Donald Trump formally initiated the second phase of his comprehensive peace framework for the Palestinian territory, centered on Gaza. This critical juncture involves the introduction of the Gaza Peace Council, which the President chairs, designed to shepherd the region through a transitional period toward the permanent cessation of hostilities with Israel and the complete demilitarization of Hamas, as outlined in Trump's 20-point plan.

The Peace Council is set to supervise the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a body composed of Palestinian technocrats. This committee will assume responsibility for governance capacity, daily administration, and the restoration of core public services. The NCAG is led by Ali Shaath, a former Deputy Minister of Planning for the Palestinian Authority, who is tasked with overseeing the rebuilding of civil institutions and stabilizing daily life in Gaza.

The operational arm of the larger Peace Council is the Executive Founding Council, announced with prominent international and financial figures. Confirmed members include former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and American billionaire Marc Rowan. Major General Jasper Jeffers, a veteran of US special operations, was named commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is mandated by a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November to enforce demilitarization and facilitate reconstruction material influx.

Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov will serve as the High Representative for Gaza, acting as the liaison between the Board of Peace and the local NCAG administration. Invitations to join the high-level Peace Council were extended to numerous world leaders, with Argentina and Paraguay confirming founding membership and Canada indicating an intention to accept. The Council includes figures like Tony Blair, whose past involvement in the 2003 Iraq War has drawn immediate criticism from observers.

Reactions to the announcement revealed immediate geopolitical friction. The Israeli government stated the composition of the Executive Board was not coordinated with Jerusalem and contradicted established policy. Conversely, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad characterized the board's makeup as reflecting Israeli 'specifications.' The central ambiguity in executing Phase Two remains Hamas's declaration that it will dissolve its civil government upon the technocrats' assumption of power while explicitly withholding commitment to dismantle its military or security apparatus.