Washington, January 14 (QNA) - The US President's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced Wednesday the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. He expressed the United States' appreciation for the role played by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, emphasizing that their mediation efforts were crucial and indispensable to achieving the progress made thus far.

Witkoff said via the X platform that the second phase stipulates the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian transitional administration in Gaza, called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, along with the launch of the disarmament process and the complete reconstruction of the Strip.

The US envoy noted that the first phase of the plan resulted in the provision of what he described as historic humanitarian aid, which contributed to maintaining the ceasefire, in addition to the return of all living hostages and the handover of the remains of 27 of the 28 deceased hostages.

Last October, Hamas and Israel reached an agreement on the first phase of the US president’s plan for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between the two sides, following indirect negotiations between the two parties in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with the participation of mediators, Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye, and under US supervision. (QNA)