British News Agency

The fragile ceasefire in Gaza is considered the biggest foreign policy achievement of Trump’s second term so far, and his administration wants to proceed to the next stage to avoid a return to war.

Although the ceasefire has not completely collapsed, 366 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since it came into effect on October 11, and several Israeli soldiers have also been killed in Hamas attacks.

One of the key components of the first phase — the release of all living and deceased hostages held by Hamas — is nearly complete. The remains of one deceased hostage have not yet been returned, and an Israeli delegation met on Thursday with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to discuss how to secure the remaining releases. Under U.S. pressure, Israel agreed to open the Rafah crossing and allow Palestinians to leave Gaza for Egypt. Israel, Egypt and the U.S. are discussing security arrangements that would allow Palestinians to return in the opposite direction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet President Trump in the U.S. before the end of the month to discuss the next phase of the Gaza agreement. In a phone call on Monday, Trump said he expects Netanyahu to be “a better partner” on Gaza.

The second phase of the agreement includes Israel’s withdrawal from most of Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilization force (ISF), and the implementation of a new governance structure that includes a Peace Council led by Trump.

The UN Security Council recently authorized both the ISF and the council. U.S. officials say they are in the final stages of forming the international force and Gaza’s new governance structure, which they hope to implement within two to three weeks. A Western source directly involved in the talks said, “All the different elements have advanced significantly. Everything is on track, and the aim is to announce it before people go on holiday.”

At the top of the governance structure will be the Trump-led Peace Council, which will include around 10 leaders from Arab and Western countries.

Beneath that will be an international administrative board including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and senior officials from countries represented on the Peace Council.

Below that board will be a Palestinian technocratic government made up of 12–15 Palestinians with governance and professional experience, unaffiliated with Hamas, Fatah, or any other factions.

A source familiar with the vetting process said the initial list included 25 candidates, about half of whom were eliminated. Some currently live in Gaza, while others who previously lived there will return to serve in the new government.

Sources say the U.S. is in the final stages of securing agreement on the government structure with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and regional states.

They also say the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Turkey are negotiating with Hamas on a deal under which the group will withdraw from governing Gaza and begin a disarmament process.

Under the proposal, Hamas will first surrender its heavy weapons and then begin disabling its light weapons. A Western source said Egypt and Qatar are optimistic about reaching a deal with Hamas, but Netanyahu is not. The source added, “Bibi is skeptical, but determined to give the agreement a chance to work.”