WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- US President Donald Trump announced Thursday the formation of a "Board of Peace" for the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
"It is my Great Honor to announce that the Board of Peace has been formed. The Members of the Board will be announced shortly, but I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
US envoy Steve Witkoff announced Wednesday that the second phase of a ceasefire agreement had begun as part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.
In a separate post, Trump said the next phase of his plan "officially" began.
"As Chairman of the Board of Peace, I am backing a newly appointed Palestinian Technocratic Government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, supported by the Board's High Representative, to govern Gaza during its transition.
"These Palestinian leaders are unwaveringly committed to a PEACEFUL future!" he said.
Trump said a "comprehensive demilitarisation agreement" with Hamas will be secured with the support of Egypt, Turkiye and Qatar.
He said the proposed agreement would require the Palestinian group to surrender its weapons and dismantle its tunnel network.
"Hamas must immediately honour its commitments, including the return of the final body to Israel, and proceed without delay to full Demilitarisation. As I have said before, they can do this the easy way, or the hard way.
"The people of Gaza have suffered long enough. The time is now," he added.
Trump announced a 20-point plan in September outlining a ceasefire framework that includes the release of Israeli captives, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the formation of a technocratic administration and the deployment of an international stabilisation force, alongside a demand for Hamas to disarm.
Israel has killed more than 71,400 victims, most of them women and children, and injured over 171,300 in a brutal offensive since October 2023 that left Gaza in ruins.
Despite a ceasefire that began Oct 10, Israel has continued to attack, killing 451 Palestinians and wounding more than 1,200, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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