US envoy Witkoff Gaza peace plan
Washington (dpa) — Progress is being made in implementing the Gaza peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on Saturday.
“The first phase has yielded progress, including expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities,” Witkoff wrote on X, a day after exploratory talks with representatives of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
“Further consultations will continue in the coming weeks to advance the implementation of phase two,” he added.
The second phase of the Gaza peace plan includes the reconstruction of the devastated territory. Israel insists that the body of the last remaining hostage, still held in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack in 2023, must first be returned – one of the conditions set out in the plan’s initial phase.
The plan also calls for the disarmament of Hamas, which has said it will not give up its weapons.
Witkoff said the talks also focused on measures to facilitate trade in the region and develop infrastructure.
“In this context, we expressed our support for the near-term establishment and operationalization of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration for the civilian, security, and reconstruction tracks of the reconstruction,” he said.
The creation of the Board of Peace is one of 20 points in the Gaza peace plan unveiled by Trump in late September.
Under the proposal, Gaza would be temporarily administered by a committee of non-partisan technocrats, overseen by a new transitional body known as the Board of Peace, which Trump says he intends to chair.
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