Gaza ceasefire mediators gathered in Miami, Florida, to review the first phase of the agreement and advance the implementation of the second phase.
The meeting took place as both Hamas and Israel accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, putting the fragile agreement at risk.
Miami Talks
On Friday, senior officials from Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye met with the US Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss the implementation of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
The meeting came as the ceasefire mediators try to push for the implementation of the second phase of the agreement, including the establishment of the “Board of Peace” and the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza – set to take place in early 2026.
Advancing Phase 2
The meeting reviewed progress made in the first phase of the agreement, including “expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities.”
Furthermore, it focused on advancing preparations for the second phase of the deal. “In our discussions regarding phase two, we emphasized enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order,” Witkoff said in a statement on Saturday.
The statement added that discussions also addressed “regional integration measures, including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and cooperation on energy, water, and other shared resources,” all of which are critical for the recovery of Gaza and regional stability.
Backing ‘Board of Peace’
Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, endorsed by the UN in November, calls for the formation of the “Board of Peace.” It is an international transitional body that will oversee a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee – made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts – which will handle delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza.
Moreover, it will establish the framework and manage the funding for the Strip’s redevelopment until the completion of the Palestinian Authority (PA) reform program.
The deployment of the ISF will follow shortly after the formation of the transitional governing body. The ISF will work with Israel, Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to help maintain security and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
In the light of this, Witkoff’s statement expressed the mediators’ “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.”
Commitment to Peace Plan
The mediators said that they reviewed the next steps in the implementation of the 20-point peace plan for Gaza, “underscoring the importance of sequencing, coordination, and effective monitoring in partnership with local Gazan institutions and international partners.”
Importantly, they urged all parties to respect their obligations under the deal and exercise restraint to advance the second phase of the plan.
“We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20-point peace plan and call 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 statement noted.
Sticking Issue
The disarmament of Hamas remains one of the key sticking points in the peace plan. The Palestinian movement has stressed its right to armed resistance, rejecting to give up its weapons until Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian territories and an independent Palestinian State is established.
On Friday, the US State Secretary, Marco Rubio, said that peace cannot be achieved if Hamas “is ever in a position in the future that they can threaten or attack Israel,” reaffirming that Hamas disarmament is “so critical.”
Commenting on media reports suggesting it might hand over heavy weapons but retain smaller ones, Rubio said “I would just ask everyone to focus on what are the kind of weaponries and capabilities that Hamas would need in order to threaten or attack Israel as a baseline for what disarmament needs to look like.”
He added that technical teams will handle the issue to determine the specifics of this process.
