US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff . AP
"The first phase of Gaza agreement has yielded progress, including expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of captives bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities" said a statement posted by Witkoff on X.
In discussions regarding phase two, Witkoff stated that the mediators emphasized, "Enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order."
"We also discussed regional integration measures, including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and cooperation on energy, water, and other shared resources, as essential to Gaza’s recovery, regional stability, and long-term prosperity,' he said.
In this context, Witkoff continued, mediators expressed their 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.
"We reviewed next steps in the phased implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, underscoring the importance of sequencing, coordination, and effective monitoring in partnership with local Gazan institutions and international partners".
He reaffirmed mediators' full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20-point plan and called on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements.
Further consultations will continue in the coming weeks to advance the implementation of phase two, the US envoy concluded.
Under the deal's second stage, Israel is mandated to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to govern the Palestinian territory, and an international stabilization force is to be deployed.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope for headway on reaching the next stage of a Gaza ceasefire, but also urged the disarmament of Hamas, saying the process would unravel unless that happened.
In response, Hamas's Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said on Sunday that the Palestinian resistance group had a legitimate right to hold weapons in the face of occupation under international law.
Another top Hamas official said that the talks in Miami must aim to end Israeli truce violations.
"Our people expect these talks to result in an agreement to put an end to ongoing Israeli lawlessness, halt all violations and compel the occupation to abide by the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement," Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told AFP on Friday.
The ceasefire's third phase includes plans for the reconstruction of the vast areas of Gaza levelled by Israel's army.
The meeting in Miami came amid continuing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement. On Friday, Gaza's civil defence said six people, including a four-month-old infant, were killed in the latest Israeli shelling of a shelter for the displaced. That brought to 400 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the deal took effect on 10 October.
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