Trump Prepares to Announce Details of Gaza Peace Council Featuring 15 Palestinians and a Bulgarian Minister

U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to announce the transition to the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire. He is expected to reveal a new administrative structure for the Strip today, despite obstacles such as funding issues, Israeli opposition to reconstruction, and delays in troop withdrawals. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump believes it is time to move from fighting to governance and reconstruction, as outlined in the 20-point "Trump Plan" approved during the Sharm El-Sheikh summit in Egypt.

Administrative Structure: The U.S. is expected to name 15 Palestinian technocrats to form the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). This committee will handle daily operations, including education and public services. Former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov, a former UN Middle East peace envoy, will be appointed as the High Representative for the Peace Council, which Trump himself will chair. Mladenov will act as the liaison between the Palestinian technocrats and the Peace Council.

Ongoing Challenges: The plan faces significant hurdles, particularly Israel's demand for the total disarmament of Hamas. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro noted that Hamas has proven to be "more resilient than most people expected" during the initial stages of the conflict, complicating the transition to the proposed administrative model.