Gaza's phase two opens on the hardest question: will Hamas disarm?

Summary

The Gaza War ceasefire has moved to its hardest phase. Washington launched stage two of the 20-point plan, which shifts from pause to demilitarisation, technocratic governance and reconstruction. Trump appointed 15 members of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) under Dr Ali Sha'ath, backed by an international Board of Peace, and is reportedly assigning a two-star US general to lead an international stabilisation force of US, Arab and European personnel to train a Palestinian police force. The pillar that has not been built is disarmament: a Board of Peace plan presented to Hamas in March was rejected as "unacceptable," with Hamas arguing it cannot disarm while Israel keeps striking. Prospective force contributors are withholding commitments pending answers on mandate and security.

By the numbers

20 — points in the Trump plan; phase two covers governance, demilitarisation, rebuilding.
15 — NCAG members appointed, led by Dr Ali Sha'ath.
2-star — rank of the US general reportedly tapped to lead the stabilisation force.
March 2026 — when the disarmament plan was presented and rejected.

Why it matters

Disarmament is the keystone Israel demands and Hamas refuses; without it the governance and force pillars cannot lock in. Troop contributors' hesitancy leaves the international force notional. The impasse keeps the Israeli coalition and the ceasefire itself exposed to collapse.

What to watch

Whether any country commits troops to the stabilisation force with a clear mandate.
Any revised disarmament formula Hamas might accept (decommissioning vs surrender).
Whether the NCAG actually takes over service delivery on the ground.

the record · 2

Wikipedia (Gaza peace plan) — Documentary record of the 20-point plan and its phase-two architecture — the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the international stabilisation force, the Board of Peace and the disarmament timeline.

Council on Foreign Relations — Reference guide to the deal's terms and sequencing — the demilitarisation requirement, the technocratic administration and the unresolved questions over who polices Hamas's weapons.

Miradas regionales · 2

▸ Israeli mainstream

The Jerusalem Post · Israel · he

Frames disarmament as the test the whole plan rests on — a Board of Peace plan presented in March that Hamas called unacceptable, leaving Israel's demand and Hamas's refusal as the core impasse of phase two.

“Phase two's real test is whether Hamas disarms — a demand the group has flatly rejected as unacceptable, leaving the plan's security pillar unbuilt.”

Fuente ↗

▸ pan-Arab

Al Jazeera · Qatar · ar

Emphasises Hamas's grievance that Israel kept striking after the October ceasefire while demanding the group disarm — and the stalling of governance and force-deployment commitments by would-be troop contributors.

“Hamas says it cannot be asked to disarm while Israel keeps striking Gaza and has not withdrawn — the contributors to the international force are holding back.”

Fuente ↗