Timing of the Deployment of Peacekeeping Forces and the Introduction of the International Body for the Reconstruction of Gaza

TEHRAN (Defapress) -  Associated Press, citing its sources in Arab and Western governments, announced that the international body responsible for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will be introduced before the end of this year.

Within the framework of the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the chairmanship of this international body, called the "Board of Peace", will be held by the US President and must reconstruct Gaza within two years. The delegation will also include 12 other Western leaders and West Asian countries.

In addition, in the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations, a committee consisting of Palestinian technocrats will be introduced to manage daily affairs in Gaza. The committee is expected to be formed after Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington and meets with Donald Trump later this month.

Hamas-Israel talks: difficult and extensive

The timing is a significant step forward in implementing Donald Trump’s 20-point plan. The fragile ceasefire that began on October 8 has been repeatedly violated by Israel. This is while Hamas’s commitments in the first phase only include the handover of the body of the last Israeli hostage.

The ceasefire agreement also insists on the formation of an international peacekeeping force and the disarmament of Hamas as Israel’s main demands. Negotiations on which countries will participate in the international peacekeeping force are still ongoing. At the same time, the deployment of these forces is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

The start of the second round of comprehensive talks between Hamas and Israel is imminent and is expected to be difficult. The round of talks is set to address the issue of Hamas disarmament, an issue that Hamas has not yet agreed to. The occupation army is also set to withdraw from about half of the Gaza Strip, along with the deployment of an international force.

How the Gaza reconstruction plan will be financed is still unclear, and Palestinians are concerned about the lack of a single Palestinian voice and the deception of an independent state. Netanyahu has rejected the creation of a Palestinian state, and the ceasefire agreement contains only a vague clause on this issue, saying that the path to an independent state may be paved if certain conditions are met.

Israel plans to reopen the Rafah crossing

Israel announced on Wednesday that it plans to reopen the Rafah crossing in the coming days, allowing Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip, an issue that was included in the ceasefire agreement. The move could be a significant development for Gaza residents, who have not been allowed to leave the Gaza Strip for two years of genocide.

The issue has become a bone of contention between Egypt and Israel. Cairo wants Palestinians to be able to return to Gaza through the crossing, saying it will only open if the crossing is open to two-way traffic. But Israel says Palestinians will not be allowed to return to Gaza until the remains of the last Israeli hostage are returned.

The governments of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have expressed deep concern about the continuation of the ceasefire agreement. The foreign ministers of the eight countries said in a joint statement that the Rafah crossing should be open in both directions. They also expressed concern that if Palestinians leave Gaza, they may not be allowed to return.

The occupying army said on Friday it had killed a man in northern Gaza who was approaching soldiers. The occupation also killed another man in the West Bank for throwing stones.