Trump administration races to finalise Gaza transition plan before Christmas Report by Axios

President Trump is preparing to announce before Christmas that the Gaza peace process will enter its second phase and to reveal the enclave’s new governance structure, Axios reports, quoting two US officials and a Western source directly involved.

The administration views the fragile ceasefire as its most significant foreign policy achievement of Trump’s second term and is eager to advance to the next stage to prevent a return to full-scale war.

Although the ceasefire has not collapsed, Israeli strikes have killed 366 Palestinians and Hamas attacks have killed several Israeli soldiers since it took effect on October 11. One of the core goals of the first phase — the release by Hamas of all living and deceased hostages — is almost completed, with only one body still outstanding. An Israeli delegation met Qatari and Egyptian mediators on Thursday to discuss the recovery of the remaining remains.

Under US pressure, Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza for Egypt, and Washington, Israel and Egypt are now negotiating the security arrangements necessary for Palestinians to return in the opposite direction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump in the US before the end of the month to address the second phase of the deal. During a phone call on Monday, Trump told Netanyahu he expects him to be a “better partner” on Gaza.

Phase two envisions further Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilisation force (ISF), and the introduction of a new governing system headed by the Trump-led Board of Peace. The UN Security Council has already authorized both the ISF and the board, and US officials say the international force and the new governance structure are now in their final stages of preparation, with hopes of unveiling them within two or three weeks. A Western source involved in the discussions said all components are “well-advanced” and that the aim is to announce them before the holiday break.

At the top of the governance framework will sit the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and composed of roughly ten leaders from Arab and Western nations. Beneath it will operate an international executive board that will include former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and other senior officials from countries represented on the Board of Peace.

A Palestinian technocratic government, made up of 12–15 individuals with management or business experience and no affiliation with Hamas, Fatah or any other Palestinian faction, will function under the executive board.

A source familiar with the vetting process said the initial list contained 25 candidates, about half of whom have been eliminated; some candidates currently live in Gaza, while others have lived there previously and would return to serve. The US is close to securing an agreement with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and regional governments on the final composition of this technocratic cabinet.

Countries including Indonesia, Egypt and Türkiye have signalled readiness to contribute troops to the ISF, which will deploy in the areas of Gaza presently under Israeli military control. US officials say this will enable Israel to pull back further from those zones. The plan envisions the ISF working in close cooperation with the technocratic government and coordinating with Israel and Egypt.

Meanwhile, the US, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye are negotiating with Hamas on a proposal under which the group would relinquish governing authority in Gaza and begin a phased disarmament process. Under the proposal, Hamas would first surrender its heavy weapons and then move toward decommissioning its light arms. Egypt and Qatar believe an agreement is achievable, though Netanyahu remains doubtful. According to a Western source, he is “sceptical but committed to give it a chance.”

Washington and its mediators want to finalise all elements of the phase-two framework with regional backing before presenting the full package to Hamas. As one Western official summarised, the equation is “IDF out of Gaza but Hamas out of power.” The key question is whether Hamas will accept disarmament and allow the new government to assume authority, as they cannot retain control directly or indirectly through their weaponry. The decisive moment is expected within weeks.

A White House official told Axios that announcements regarding the Board of Peace and further steps in the Gaza plan will be made in the coming weeks, stressing that the Trump administration and its partners are working intensively to implement the president’s “historic 20-point plan” aimed at securing stability and prosperity for Gaza and the wider region.

By Tamilla Hasanova