Trump to Announce Formation of Gaza Peace Council Next Week

US President Donald Trump intends to announce the formation of a Gaza Peace Council next week, as part of the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian territory, according to Axios.

Axios quoted American officials and two informed sources as saying that Trump will chair the council, which will include about 15 world leaders, with the aim of overseeing a Palestinian technocratic government whose formation has not yet been announced, and will also oversee the reconstruction process.

An informed source said that "invitations are currently being extended to key countries to participate in the Peace Council." Among the countries expected to join the council are "the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey."

US officials indicated that the plan is still subject to modification, depending on developments in other issues on Trump's foreign policy agenda, such as Venezuela and the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Axios, the Peace Council is also expected to be represented on the ground by former UN envoy to the Middle East, Nikolay Mladenov.

Mladenov is visiting Israel this week to hold meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, in preparation for Trump's anticipated announcement.

The first meeting of the Peace Council is also likely to be held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month.

The Day After Plan's Timeline

In late December, the newspaper "Israel Hayom" reported that US President Donald Trump informed the Israeli Prime Minister during their meeting in Florida that he would reveal his "Day After" plan for Gaza on January 15, 2026, which includes the formation of an international oversight body.

The newspaper added that Trump announced during the meeting that a civilian entity to manage Gaza's affairs would be formed in the coming weeks, and would prepare to take over control from the "Hamas" movement.

According to diplomats, Netanyahu did not object to Trump's statements, while the Israeli delegation considered that the statements lacked implementation mechanisms on the ground.

Another diplomatic official indicated that "the matter was presented as a presidential decree, not a proposal, and Netanyahu was unable to challenge it."

The Economist previously quoted US officials as saying that Washington intends to launch the reconstruction project "within weeks," while acknowledging that disarming "Hamas" will take much longer.

Trump's plan calls for Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, and for "Hamas" to lay down its weapons and relinquish any role in governing the Strip. The first phase of the ceasefire included a partial Israeli withdrawal, an increase in aid, and an exchange of Israeli detainees for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The head of "Hamas" in the Gaza Strip and the head of its negotiating delegation, Khalil al-Hayya, had previously announced that the movement is open to considering any proposals regarding weapons, but on the condition that it maintains that "resistance and its weapons are a right guaranteed by international laws."