The United States has declared the start of a critical new phase in its plan to end the conflict in Gaza, moving to establish a transitional Palestinian administration on the ground. The announcement was made on Wednesday 14 January 2026 by Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
What Phase Two Entails
This pivotal stage, known as Phase Two, formally creates a temporary, technocratic Palestinian body to govern Gaza, called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). Concurrently, the plan initiates the comprehensive demilitarisation and reconstruction of the devastated territory.
A core component of this phase is the disarmament of all unauthorised armed groups within Gaza. In a pointed message on social media platform X, Witkoff explicitly addressed Hamas, stating, "The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences."
The Significant Challenges Ahead
Sky News' US correspondent, Mark Stone, highlighted the immense difficulty of the disarmament demand, noting a lack of detailed strategy. "The part about disarming Hamas is clearly a huge challenge," he reported.
Stone outlined the unresolved issues that preceded this move: "They [Hamas] haven't disarmed. And [Israel] also wanted the remains of the last hostage to be found and brought back... that still hasn't happened." Despite these outstanding conditions, American diplomacy has secured Israeli agreement to proceed.
A Crucial Palestinian Endorsement
A key development enabling the shift to Phase Two is the apparent backing from Palestinian representatives. "The other significant point is that the Palestinians also appear happy with this move to phase two. And they are endorsing it," Stone confirmed. This Palestinian support is seen as vital for the legitimacy and potential success of the transitional administration.
The launch of Phase Two marks a major, yet fragile, step in a long-term process aimed at stabilising Gaza and paving the way for reconstruction, with its success heavily dependent on the compliance of Hamas and the sustained cooperation of all involved parties.
