January 14, 2026 l By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
CAIRO/WASHINGTON — The United States government is preparing to unveil a post-war leadership structure for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, advancing a phased proposal aimed at governing the war-ravaged Palestinian territory following extended conflict between Israel and Hamas, senior Palestinian sources said. The planned announcement, expected to be made by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, reflects a controversial yet significant diplomatic effort to shape Gaza’s transitional governance.
Under the 20-point plan initially agreed in October by Israel and Hamas, a technocratic Palestinian body will be formed to administer the Gaza Strip during a transitional period. This governance entity to be supervised by an international “Board of Peace” is explicitly not to include representation from Hamas and is intended to provide administrative stability while broader peace efforts continue.
According to the sources, the 14-member Palestinian leadership committee will be headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Western-backed Palestinian Authority who once oversaw industrial zone development. Other members of the committee are drawn from the private sector and non-governmental organisations, selected with the help of Nickolay Mladenov, the former United Nations Middle East envoy, who is expected to serve as the Board of Peace’s on-the-ground representative.
The unveiling of this administrative body marks what U.S. officials are calling Phase Two of the Trump plan a progression from the initial ceasefire and partial hostage release deal that has faced serious implementation challenges. Critics have pointed to continued Israeli airstrikes, Hamas’s refusal to disarm and logistic delays at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt as major obstacles to peace and reconstruction.
The first phase of the agreement, concluded with Egyptian mediation, established a ceasefire and initiated a hostage swap, but its achievements have been undermined by renewed violence and dilatory tactics from the parties involved. Nevertheless, Washington is pushing ahead, asserting that the institutionalised committee will offer a governance blueprint designed to prevent renewed conflict and lay the groundwork for demilitarisation, reconstruction and eventual civil authority transfer.
Diplomats and negotiators from Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions are reportedly in Cairo for ongoing discussions that focus on issues of disarmament and political transition. The committee’s anticipated announcement seeks to solidify consensus among Palestinian stakeholders while securing international support for Gaza’s post-war future.
Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the proposed administrative leadership, and questions remain over how or whether the new governance arrangement will align with Israel’s security considerations or Hamas’s long-term stance. Jerusalem has previously expressed scepticism over elements of the Trump plan, particularly its implications for future security arrangements and territorial control.
As the Trump administration moves forward with its phased peace strategy, analysts caution that real progress will depend not only on diplomatic agreements on paper but also on practical implementation notably Hamas disarmament and safeguards against renewed hostilities. The coming days are likely to be pivotal in shaping both Gaza’s immediate governance and the broader prospects for lasting stability in the region.