American Media: Trump Expected to Announce Peace Council and Transition to Second Phase in Gaza Next Week

The news network "Axios" quoted American officials as saying that President Donald Trump intends to announce, within the next few weeks of January 2026, the official transition to the second phase of his peace plan in the Gaza Strip.

This phase includes the establishment of a new governance structure called the "Board of Peace," which Trump intends to personally chair, in a move that reflects the American administration's desire for direct oversight of the reconstruction file and the establishment of stability after decades of conflict.

These developments come as a continuation of the first phase, which resulted from the fragile truce that began in October 2025, and witnessed an exchange of detainees and prisoners and a partial withdrawal of occupation forces.

Despite mutual violations, America insists on pushing towards the "second phase," which is based on the philosophy of civil rule away from traditional factional tensions.

Trump had postponed the announcement of the details of this council, which was scheduled before last Christmas, to give American diplomacy more time to coordinate with regional and international partners, and to overcome the obstacles placed by Benjamin Netanyahu's government regarding some provisions of the plan.

The new plan is based on five main pillars aimed at radically changing the reality of the Strip.

Militarily, the plan stipulates the withdrawal of occupation forces from additional areas in Gaza, to be replaced by the deployment of an "International Stabilization Force" (ISF) that will undertake security tasks and monitor the gradual disarmament of Hamas.

Politically, Washington seeks to establish a Palestinian technocratic government, not affiliated with Hamas or Fatah, to be responsible for managing the daily affairs of the population. The "Board of Peace" will be the umbrella for these movements, with Trump joined by figures such as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, with expectations of participation from prominent leaders in the region, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to ensure financial and political support for reconstruction.

Despite this momentum, reports indicate Netanyahu's adherence to cautious positions, especially regarding the role of countries like Turkey and Qatar in this path, which creates a noticeable tension between Tel Aviv and Washington.

The occupation desires strict security guarantees before any additional withdrawal, while Trump believes that his chairmanship of the council is the greatest guarantee for all parties.

Trump's vision for 2026 represents an attempt to reframe the Palestinian crisis from a direct economic and security perspective, away from the complexities of traditional negotiations.

If the anticipated announcement in January succeeds, the Gaza Strip will enter an unprecedented phase of internationalization, where America and its allies will have the upper hand in shaping the future.

The biggest challenge remains the ability of this new structure to withstand field violations and political reservations that continue to hinder the path to lasting peace.