Three months after the Gaza in September and early October 2024, it appears that some aspects of the US-backed peace plan are taking shape.
It is worth recalling that US President Donald Trump’s peace plan had a multi-phase approach that is supposed to lead to peace in Gaza. The 20-point plan envisioned a Board of Peace and a transitional technocratic government for Gaza.
There is also supposed to be an international stabilization force, and there appears to be some progress regarding issues in Gaza. This comes amid continuing tensions regarding the ceasefire. But how much progress has been made, and what might come next? It is important to first look at what is known about the Gaza plan. Many aspects have yet to materialize. However, some large challenges have been overcome successfully.
The remains of one hostage, Ran Gvili, are still in Gaza. All the other hostages, living and deceased, have been returned. The ceasefire has been largely held by Hamas and Israel, although there have been some incidents every week.
For instance, this week, the IDF said, “Six armed terrorists were identified in the western Rafah area, and following searches that were conducted in the area, it is now confirmed that IDF troops eliminated the six terrorists during the exchange of fire.”
On January 9, the Associated Press reported that “Nickolay Mladenov, the man chosen to serve as director-general for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Gaza, is a Bulgarian politician and former UN envoy to the Middle East who frequently worked to ease tensions between Israel and Hamas.”
On January 8, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Mladenov and reiterated that “Hamas must be disarmed and the Gaza Strip must be demilitarized in accordance with the 20-point plan of President Trump,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Arab News in Saudi Arabia reported on January 14 that, according to a report in The Times, “British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to accept an offer to sit on a US President Trump-led board that would temporarily run Gaza.”
“The report cited a senior British official as saying the first meeting was expected to take place next week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,” Arab News added.
Now it appears that some members of a technocratic committee for Gaza have also been proposed. Several sources – including Israeli media, The New York Times, the pro-Iranian site Al Mayadeen, and Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi – have reported on some of the potential names.
Who are the alleged potential members of the Gaza technocratic committee?
Sinijlawi wrote on X/Twitter that “this is the full list of the Technocratic Government of Gaza, whose first meeting is expected to convene in Cairo soon,” and that the following men have been named:
Dr. Ali Shaath, head of the Administrative Committee (former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority’s Transportation Ministry); Ayed Abu Ramadan, head of Trade and Economy (chairman of the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry); Eng. Omar Shamali, head of the Telecommunications Portfolio (director of Palestinian Telecommunications in Gaza); Abdul Karim Ashour, head of the Agriculture Portfolio (director of Agricultural Relief and community activist); Dr. Aed Yaghi, head of the Health Portfolio (director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society); Dr. Jaber al‑Daour, head of the Education Portfolio (president of Palestine University); and Bashir Al‑Rayyes, head of the Finance Portfolio (engineering and financial consultant).
He also reported that Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Tawfiq Helles and Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Nasman will be the “heads of Police and Security Affairs.”
As more names are released of those connected to what comes next in Gaza, it will be important to measure reactions in Israel and among the Palestinian public. Meanwhile, Fatah said “that any committee formed to govern the Gaza Strip must be headed by a minister from the PA,” according to Xinhua Chinese. Media.
“Fatah spokesperson Munther al-Hayek said in a statement that the proposed administrative body must derive its legitimacy from the Ramallah-based PA, warning that Hamas’s refusal to cooperate could deepen the political and geographic divide between Gaza and the West Bank,” it added.
Hayek said, “The Palestinian people are facing a dangerous phase that requires a legitimate political system recognized internationally in order to mobilize global support for relief and reconstruction.”
The overall challenge continues to be clear. It has taken time to get a small number of names for the Board of Peace and the Administration Committee for Gaza. However, it is still not clear who will be part of the stabilization force.
The only major success so far has been the CMCC, the Civilian-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, where the US Central Command helped bring together 50 countries and organizations to quickly boost humanitarian aid.
Nevertheless, announcing names indicates that at least some progress is underway in Gaza.
The US had hoped this would happen sooner. However, there are many issues on the White House agenda. Trump has been dealing with the crisis in Venezuela and also with Iran. Gaza is only one issue that is important.
The US is also examining what might happen next in Lebanon and dealing with the crisis in Syria. As such, Gaza is moving slowly. However, as long as a ceasefire holds and there is peace, then things can move into place. The key will be disarming Hamas and separating it from ruling over two million civilians in Gaza.