Trump endorses transitional Palestinian technocratic body for post-war Gaza

WEB DESK: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he supports a newly established Palestinian technocratic body tasked with administering Gaza during a transitional period, as Washington proceeds with the second phase of a ceasefire that came into force in October but continues to face serious challenges.

In a series of social media statements, Trump said the body, officially named the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, would be responsible for governing the territory during the post-conflict transition. He said the committee would operate under the supervision of an international oversight mechanism referred to as the “Board of Peace,” which he said has already been formed and whose members would be announced soon.

Ceasefire under strain amid disputes and unresolved security issues

Despite the truce, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with Israel and Hamas repeatedly accusing each other of breaching the ceasefire. Since October, more than 440 Palestinians — including over 100 children — and three Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed, highlighting the fragility of the agreement.

The ceasefire has also been tested by a series of unresolved issues, including delays in reopening Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt, the failure to recover the remains of a final Israeli hostage, and Hamas’ continued refusal to disarm. These challenges have complicated efforts to stabilise the territory as diplomatic activity intensifies.

Washington’s decision to push ahead with the second phase of the ceasefire will require mediators to address politically sensitive questions, including the dismantling of Hamas’ military capabilities, further Israeli troop withdrawals linked to disarmament, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping presence.

According to mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, the technocratic body will consist of 15 members and will be led by Ali Shaath, a former senior official in the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Trump said the mediators would also assist in pursuing what he described as a comprehensive demilitarisation agreement with Hamas.

Trump added that the technocratic leadership was committed to a peaceful future for Gaza, though critics have questioned the structure of the oversight mechanism, with some analysts arguing that the US-led supervisory role resembles a form of external control.