The United States Second Phase of the Gaza Ceasefire Plan
- Vardui Chtrkyan
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Katie Ko
On January 15, 2026, the National Committee for Administration of Gaza (NCAG) was formed as a transitional body, marking the formal launch of Phase Two of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Comprehensive Plan aimed at consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza. The committee will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, who will oversee the restoration of essential public services, rebuilding of civil institutions, and stabilization of life in Gaza while also laying foundations for long-term governance.
According to the White House, Phase Two focuses on consolidating the ceasefire through demilitarization of Gaza, the removal of Hamas and other armed factions, and the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian administration to manage daily affairs. The phase also calls for reconstruction and economic recovery initiatives. Under the plan, Gaza will shift from a state of ceasefire to a “de-radicalized terror-free zone that no longer poses a threat” to Israel or Egypt (Resolution 2803, 2025). The plan further stipulates that Hamas and other factions will not have any role in the governance of Gaza, while Israel Defense Forces are to withdraw. Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners, 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2025, and the remains of 15 Gazans for every Israeli hostage’s remains released by Gaza. A temporary International Stabilization Force composed of U.S., Arab, and European personnel is to help to secure borders, supervise disarmament, and work alongside the newly trained Palestinian police force.
This milestone follows the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 on November 17, 2025, which endorsed Trump’s plan after the implementation of Phase One in October. They also welcomed the establishment of the Board of Peace (BoP), a body intended to play an essential role in oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability during Gaza’s transition.
President Trump, who serves as the chairman of the BoP, has appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisors to the BoP. According to the White House, they will lead day-to-day strategy and operations, and translate the BoP’s mandate and diplomatic priorities to disciplined execution plans. H.E. Nickolay Mladenoc, former UN Special Coordinator, has been appointed High Representative for Gaza and will serve as the contact link between the Board of Peace and the National Committee for Administration of Gaza (White House, 2025).
UN officials have expressed cautious optimism regarding the second phase of the plan while emphasizing the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Assistant Secretary General, has stated that “the people in Gaza are ready and eager to lead the way to a better, more stable future,” but warns that humanitarian needs remain severe. According to the UN, nearly all of Gaza’s population requires assistance, and more than 1.5 million displaced people are facing harsh winter conditions (Alakbarov, 2026).
Works Cited
The White House. (2026, January 16). Statement on President Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/01/statement-on-president-trumps-comprehensive-plan-to-end-the-gaza-conflict/
Potential turning point for Gaza as peace plan enters second phase: UN envoy. (2026, January 28). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166852
Haddad, M., & Mansour, M. (2026, January 18). US declares phase two of Gaza ceasefire, but what did phase one deliver? Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/16/us-declares-phase-two-of-gaza-ceasefire-but-what-did-phase-one-deliver
United Nations Security Council. (2025, November 17). S/RES/2803 (2025) [Resolution]. United Nations.
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