US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced the transition to the second phase of the ongoing Gaza peace agreement. 

"Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of the second phase of his 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza - moving from a ceasefire to a phase of denuclearisation, technocratic governance, and reconstruction," Witkoff wrote on X.

"In the second phase, a temporary technocratic Palestinian government will be established in Gaza to be called the 'National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip' (NCAG)," Witkoff continued.

A source told Sky News Arabic that Ali Shaath is expected to head the committee, while Muhammad Basman, a retired member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, is expected to head up the security portfolio.

Born in Khan Yunis and currently living in the West Bank, Shaath is a member of the Dahlan faction of Fatah, Qatar's Al-Arabi reported, adding that the elected members of the committee who are situated in Gaza are expected to depart on the evening of January 14 for a meeting in Egypt, via the Rafah crossing.

The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will comprise 15 Palestinian technocrats responsible for managing daily operations in the enclave, including sanitation, infrastructure, and education, according to Israeli state television Kan 11.

US officials indicated this represents a transition from conflict cessation to "managing and rebuilding the Strip" - the second phase of Trump's 20-point plan, and has been agreed by Hamas officials in the enclave, according to several Israeli and Arab reports.

Former Bulgarian Foreign Minister and UN Middle East peace envoy Nikolay Mladenov will serve as the Peace Council's high representative, coordinating between the Palestinian technocrats and Trump's Peace Council, American officials confirmed.

Witkoff's announcement has been met with oppostion from sectors of Israeli society. Israel had established preconditions to the continuation of the deal, specifically demanding that Hamas disarm and return the remains of Ran Gvili, the final hostage in Gaza. However, Gvili's remains have not yet been returned.

"Moving to Phase II now, while efforts to secure Ran's return have not been exhausted, would mean giving up the most significant source of leverage and could effectively condemn Ran to permanent disappearance," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

Talik Gvili, the mother of Ran, confirmed to Kan 11 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the family, assuring them that the return of Ran is of utmost priority to his administration.

"The statement on Phase II focuses on the demand of disarming Hamas terrorists and demilitarising the Gaza Strip. There will be no IDF withdrawal until they are disarmed, no construction, and no reconstruction," she added.

In comments posted on his Telegram channel earlier this week, Hazem Kassem, the main Hamas spokesperson, called for speeding up the establishment of the technocratic committee.

The Egyptian official said Hamas will meet with other Palestinian factions this week to finalise the committee’s formation. The Hamas delegation will be chaired by top negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, the official said.

Egypt’s foreign ministry, via statements reported by Ahram Online, has publicly called for a “temporary Palestinian technocratic committee” to run daily affairs in Gaza, but does not quote a US announcement date or list of names.

Initially, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was touted to lead a group of international politicians to help set up the committee; it is currently unclear whether he is participating in peace and development negotiations between the two sides.