Citing four officials and six other individuals familiar with the decision, the New York Times reported that Ali Shaath, the former Palestinian deputy minister of planning, has been selected to chair the committee.
According to the report, the committee is expected to be announced on Wednesday, coinciding with meetings in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, involving Palestinian officials from Hamas and other factions for talks on the future of the territory.
The New York Times said its sources did not disclose further details regarding the identities of the remaining committee members, how the body would govern Gaza, or which parties would finance its operations.
Analysts quoted by the newspaper said the announcement appears aimed at injecting momentum into US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plans, as the transition to a second phase continues to face significant obstacles.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US and signed last October in Sharm El-Sheikh, included an immediate ceasefire, the exchange of captives and detainees, entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a partial Israeli military withdrawal.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued near-daily military operations in Gaza, killing more than 400 Palestinians since the agreement took effect on 10 October.
Israel has also maintained severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, with deliveries falling well below agreed levels, drawing criticism and condemnation from regional states, including Egypt, and international aid agencies.
The second phase calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), and the establishment of an international “Gaza Peace Board” chaired by US President Trump, alongside a technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza to be responsible for day-to-day governance.
US officials told The Wall Street Journal that Washington is expected to announce the names of 15 Palestinian technocrats who will form the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
Last week, Hamas decided to dissolve its government bodies in Gaza, clearing the way for the transfer of authority to a committee of independent technocrats.
The group also announced on Tuesday that a delegation led by its Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, had arrived in Egypt for talks aimed at accelerating the transition to the second phase of the Gaza agreement.
Meanwhile, former Bulgarian foreign minister Nikolay Mladenov, who previously served as UN special coordinator for Middle East peace, will be appointed as the high representative of the Trump-led Peace Board, which is expected to include around 12 members, US officials told The Wall Street Journal.
The Peace Board will provide high-level guidance on Gaza-related issues.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the council would include “the most important leaders from the most important countries,” without disclosing specific names.
Major obstacles
The next phase of the Gaza peace plan faces major obstacles, especially regarding the disarmament of Hamas and Israel’s commitment to a full withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas has repeatedly rejected calls to give up its weapons unless an independent Palestinian state is established, insisting that its arms as a resistance movement will remain as long as Israeli occupation of Palestinian land continues.
At the same time, statements from Israeli government and military officials have suggested that Israeli forces may remain inside Gaza and maintain security control over more than 50 percent of the territory.
Israeli officials have referred to the area behind the so-called “yellow line,” which currently divides Gaza, as a “new border” for Israel.
Moreover, Western, Arab, and Islamic countries remain reluctant to deploy peacekeeping forces or commit significant funding to Gaza while Israel continues to occupy roughly half of the territory.
A regional diplomat told The Financial Times that funds raised so far total no more than $1 billion, while reconstruction needs are estimated in the tens of billions.
US officials plan to use the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month to seek political and financial support for their Gaza plans.
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