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Iran is Burning, But Trump Plans to Announce Transition to Phase B in Gaza Today
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce today the transition to Phase Two of the Gaza agreement, despite the last hostage, Ran Gvili, still being held by Hamas. The president is also anticipated to announce the establishment of a new government in the Strip, replacing that of Hamas.
According to a report by journalist Barak Ravid, President Trump will announce today, Wednesday, the transition to the second phase of his plan for Gaza. Following the return of the living hostages and the bodies, except for the last hostage, Ran Gvili, the president will also announce the creation of the entity he calls the "Gaza Peace Council."
Contrary to the hopes of some Israelis to gain control over the Gaza Strip the day after Hamas and thereby correct the injustice of the disengagement, Trump will also announce the establishment of a "Palestinian technocratic government" that will manage Gaza.
Former UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov, a senior Bulgarian diplomat who previously served as the UN envoy, is ecxpetced to oversee this process.
In Israel, observers are watching Trump's moves from the sidelines, as he recently promised in his meeting with the Prime Minister that Hamas would be disarmed, which hasn't happened.
The report does not clarify whether President Trump already knows the names of the members of the technocratic government, all or most of them Palestinians, or if it will be more of a symbolic announcement.
It is also unclear how the U.S. President plans to appoint a new government and international representatives to implement Phase 2 while Hamas still firmly controls the Gaza Strip more than ever, still holds weapons, and even carries out terrorist acts from time to time.
Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old police sergeant, was killed on October 7, 2023, during a battle with Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Alumim, despite a shoulder injury. Israel and Hamas are sreaching for his remains including in the Zeitoun neighborhood, with involvement from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Gvili's family has met with Trump and Netanyahu to demand the return of his remains before Phase Two of the ceasefire. Israel maintains that Islamic Jihad knows where Gvili is, but for unknown reasons, will not divulge this information.
The Gaza Peace Council, chaired by Trump and including about 15 world leaders (such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey), will oversee the Palestinian technocratic government and reconstruction efforts. The first meeting could take place at the World Economic Forum in Davos from January 19-23.
While the world's eyes are turned toward Tehran, the U.S. president is focused on preserving the "peace" he claims to have brought to the burning Middle East.