Axios: US to discuss next steps in Gaza agreement with Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye

On December 19, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will convene in Miami with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye to discuss the next steps in implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, a White House official and two sources with direct knowledge said.

According to the sources, the US and the three mediating nations are concerned that both Israel and Hamas are delaying the second phase of the deal, appearing to favor maintaining the current status quo, Axios reports.

This will be the highest-level meeting between the mediators in the US since the agreement was signed in October, focused on determining how to push both parties to fulfill their commitments. 

Attending the talks will be Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

Under the Gaza peace agreement, Hamas is expected to relinquish control of Gaza, approve the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), and begin disarming, including decommissioning tunnels and military infrastructure. 

Israel, meanwhile, is required to reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt in both directions and initiate the second phase of the deal, which includes further Israeli withdrawals, ISF deployment, and the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza.

At the same time, the White House is finalising plans for the Trump-led Gaza Board of Peace, ISF deployment, and the announcement of the Palestinian technocratic government. President Trump aims to make these announcements in January.

By Jeyhun Aghazada