US announces start of second phase of Gaza ceasefire

US Launches Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire with Unveiling of Technocrat Committee Amid Ongoing Violence

In a move that has raised eyebrows due to its lack of detail, the US government announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire yesterday. The plan, which includes the creation of a Palestinian technocrat committee to oversee daily life in the territory, is set to bring about "full demilitarisation and reconstruction" of the area.

However, concerns remain about the committee's composition and how it will be effective without clear guidance from a proposed "peace board" chaired by President Donald Trump. The US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced the plan on social media, but no names have been disclosed for potential members of the proposed national committee for the administration of Gaza.

According to diplomats in the region, the committee is expected to comprise technocrats rather than politicians, but some may have ties to the Fatah party, which dominates the Palestinian Authority. The international community has welcomed the announcement, with Nickolay Mladenov, a veteran diplomat and UN envoy for the Middle East peace process, set to oversee the work of the committee.

Mladenov's involvement is seen as a positive development, given his reputation across the region. However, discussions in Cairo focused on further withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, reopening of the Rafah crossing, and increased aid delivery into the territory. The situation remains volatile, with around 450 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began.

Critics have expressed concern about the committee's effectiveness without a clear framework or leadership, while others have raised questions about the US's expectations for Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the return of the final deceased hostage. As tensions continue to simmer in Gaza, it remains to be seen whether this second phase of the ceasefire will bring lasting peace to the embattled territory.

I think the US is trying to do a good thing here, but they need to be more transparent about their plan . Creating a technocrat committee sounds like a great idea, but it's not clear what that even means or how it'll work . And no names for potential members? That's kinda suspicious . The fact that Nickolay Mladenov is involved is a good thing tho . But can we really trust the committee without some kind of framework or leadership? I'm all for full demilitarization and reconstruction, but let's not rush into this . Let's see how it plays out before we start celebrating

The Calm Analyst here thinks that while the US's intentions for creating a technocrat committee might seem like a good start, we're not seeing enough details about how this whole thing is gonna work out. Like, what exactly does "full demilitarisation and reconstruction" even mean? And without a clear peace board to guide the process, it's hard to trust that all parties involved will be on the same page. That being said, Nickolay Mladenov is definitely a big plus - he's got some serious diplomatic cred, and his involvement could help smooth things out. Fingers crossed that this second phase of ceasefire brings more than just temporary calm...

I'm really hoping that this technocrat committee thingy works out for the Palestinians! It's like, a fresh start, you know? And Nickolay Mladenov is on board, so that's a plus! But, at the same time, I get why people are skeptical. Like, what's the plan here? Who gets to make decisions and how will it actually happen? It's all about the details, right? And, honestly, 450 Palestinians dead since the ceasefire started is just... too much. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this second phase brings some real progress and not just more uncertainty!

I dont no how they expect this technocrat committee 2 work witout any clear framework or leadership ... its just a bunch of good intentions wit no substance. And whats w/ all these ties 2 Fatah? cant we just have 1 group dat everyone agrees on? the international community is welcoming it but im not convinced... Nickolay Mladenov is a good diplomat and all, but he aint gonna magically fix this mess. Gaza still needs more than just a committee t2 calm it down

this whole thing just feels like a game of musical chairs ... america thinks they can just pop out some tech folks and expect everything to magically work out? newsflash, Gaza ain't no startup and you can't just 'demilitarize' your way out of this mess without actual human lives being considered. plus what's with the technocrats vs politicians thing? sounds like a whole lotta backroom dealin's to me...

I'm not sure if a technocrat committee is enough to bring about "full demilitarisation and reconstruction" to Gaza. It sounds like we're trying to patch things up with Band-Aids, but not really addressing the root of the problem. What's needed is a more comprehensive plan that includes real concessions from both sides.

I'm glad to see Nickolay Mladenov on board though. He's got experience and knows the region well. Maybe this committee thingy will work out if he can navigate all the complexities and get everyone on the same page. But it's going to be tough, especially with tensions running so high. We need more than just words; we need real actions that show a commitment to peace.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea ... I mean, creating a technocrat committee without clear guidance from a "peace board" could lead to some serious issues . And what about the potential members of the committee? Ties to Fatah might be problematic for some folks . But at the same time, Nickolay Mladenov's involvement is a positive step ... he seems like someone who knows his stuff and can help bring people together.

I'm also wondering if this second phase of the ceasefire is just a Band-Aid solution . We've seen this happen before, and it doesn't always stick around . The international community needs to keep pushing for a more sustainable peace, not just some quick fix . And what about those 450 Palestinians who have lost their lives since the ceasefire began? It's heartbreaking .

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this plays out ... fingers crossed it brings about real change .

I think we're rushing into things too fast here... like, what's a technocrat committee even supposed to do? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a peaceful Gaza, but we gotta make sure this committee is set up for success . All these diplomats and advisors coming in, it's like they're trying to fix the world with a bunch of buzzwords... full demilitarisation and reconstruction sounds like some marketing jargon . And what about Hamas? Are they really gonna just roll over without some solid assurances? This is all just setting up for another crisis, imo

omg u guys this is like the 2nd failed attempt at a ceasefire what's with these techrat committees lol dont think its gonna make a difference without some clear leadership from trump or anyone else in charge meanwhile theres still 450+ ppl dead & the situation in gaza is super volatile its like the us thinks they can just magic up peace but whats the plan here?? and why didnt they even release the names of the committee members yet? this whole thing feels so suspicious

I gotta say, this whole thing just doesn't add up for me. Like, I get that the US wants to help with the reconstruction and stuff, but come on, how can they expect this technocrat committee to make a difference without some solid guidance from President Trump's peace board? I mean, it's one thing to have Nickolay Mladenov involved, he's a seasoned diplomat and all, but what if the committee is just a bunch of yes-men?

And don't even get me started on Hamas. Like, they're already being asked to comply with their obligations without any guarantees or strings attached. It just feels like a bunch of lip service to me. I think we need more than just a committee and some empty promises to actually make progress here. We need real commitment and compromise from all parties involved.

It's funny, though, the US is trying to spin this as if they're the good guys here, but at the end of the day, it's still just another bunch of politicians playing politics. Let's see how this whole thing plays out before we start writing off our hopes for peace and stability in Gaza.

I'm kinda skeptical about this whole technocrat committee thing . I mean, how's a bunch of experts gonna fix the deep-seated issues in Gaza without any clear direction or guidance? It feels like more of the same old spin to me . And what about Hamas? Are they really just gonna roll over and play nice if the US throws them a bone? It seems like there's still way too much uncertainty here, and we need to see some concrete actions being taken before I'm convinced that this ceasefire is anything more than just a temporary distraction .

I'm a bit worried about this technocrat committee thing ... sounds like they're trying to sweep everything under the rug without giving us the full picture . How are they gonna make sure everyone's on board with this "full demilitarisation and reconstruction" deal? And what's up with no names being released for the committee members? Are they just gonna choose who to trust? The international community's welcome, but let's not pretend like this is gonna magically solve everything . We need some clear leadership and a solid plan, not just a bunch of empty promises . And what about those 450 Palestinians who've been killed since the ceasefire started? That doesn't exactly scream "lasting peace" to me

omg u guyz i dont no wut 2 b thinkin bout dis new ceasefire plan... idk if its rite 2 trust a plan thats 2 slow 2 b announced n then havnt got enny details but its def a step in da rite direction, imo. havn't heard much abt steve witkoff's committee tho wat kind of ppl wil dey be choosin? and nickolay maladenov soundz like a good bet 2 b w/ but still gotta wonder if dis all jus a ploy 4 usa 2 get outta involvement

idk why the us is trying so hard to get their hands dirty on this one ... a technocrat committee? sounds like they're just throwing good money after bad meanwhile, the real issues are being ignored - like, have you seen the situation in gaza lately? it's a mess over there i'm all for peace and stuff, but can we please not rush into things without thinking them through?

man i'm a bit worried about this whole thing ...US is trying to do something good but it's like they're not giving enough details about how it's gonna work ...technocrat committee sounds good on paper but what if its not effective without clear leadership? ...i hope nickolay mladenov can make a difference though ...gaza is such a volatile situation and 450 lives lost already is just heartbreaking ...fingers crossed that this second phase of ceasefire brings some lasting peace to the area

The US is trying to fix things quickly without really thinking them through... a technocrat committee sounds like a bunch of bureaucrats who have no idea what's going on in Gaza. And what's up with this 'peace board' thing? If it was gonna happen, they should've told us by now... it just feels like the US is trying to save face instead of actually doing something concrete.