Gaza Peace Process Hits ‘Phase Two’ Trouble

A little over three months after a formal cease-fire put a halt to Israeli combat operations in the Gaza Strip, the Trump administration announced that Donald Trump’s peace plan for the region will progress to “phase two.”

In announcing the milestone, the Trump White House debuted what it’s calling “the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).” That outfit will be helmed by Dr. Ali Shaath, a native Gazan, an engineer, and a former deputy with the Palestinian Authority whom the White House describes as “a widely respected technocratic leader.”

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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A little over three months after a formal cease-fire put a halt to Israeli combat operations in the Gaza Strip, the Trump administration announced that Donald Trump’s peace plan for the region will progress to “phase two.”

In announcing the milestone, the Trump White House debuted what it’s calling “the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).” That outfit will be helmed by Dr. Ali Shaath, a native Gazan, an engineer, and a former deputy with the Palestinian Authority whom the White House describes as “a widely respected technocratic leader.”

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.