Hamas urges opening of crossings, Israeli pullout as ceasefire enters second phase
A high-ranking Hamas representative has expressed approval following the United States' declaration of the commencement of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, brokered between the Palestinian resistance organization and Israel. The agreement seeks to terminate what has been described as Israel's genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Taher al-Nunu made his comments on Thursday, following a statement by US special envoy to West Asia, Steve Witkoff. Witkoff announced on platform X the commencement of phase two of Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan. This next phase aims to transition from the initial agreement established late last year, focusing on “demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.”
An advisor to the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Nunu, has expressed approval for the formation of a technocratic committee. He emphasized the importance of reopening the Rafah crossings to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the besieged region.
Israel appears to be reluctant to meet its obligations under the Gaza truce, but mediators are actively working to pressure the regime into adhering to the agreement, he added.
On Wednesday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem characterized the announcement by Witkoff as a significant and favorable development.
A representative from the Palestinian resistance group has conveyed their willingness to transfer the governance of Gaza to an independent technocratic committee and to support the committee in its operations.
The Palestinian technocratic committee is reportedly set to be supervised by the Board of Peace, a panel anticipated to be led by seasoned Bulgarian and United Nations diplomat Nickolay Mladenov.
Gaza ceasefire mediators, encompassing Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, have expressed approval for the establishment of a technocratic body. This entity is intended to manage the daily operations in the Palestinian territory during a transitional phase.
In a joint statement, it was announced that Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, a former deputy planning minister in the Palestinian Authority, will lead the committee.
Mediators have expressed optimism that the establishment of the committee will facilitate the initiation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, according to the statement.
The statement underscored the necessity for all parties to “fully commit to implementing the agreement to ensure sustainable peace and establish the suitable conditions for the reconstruction” of Gaza, where over 80 percent of structures have sustained damage or have been obliterated due to Israeli assaults.
The initial stage of the Gaza agreement commenced on October 10, 2025, featuring the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian detainees, alongside the retreat of occupying forces to the designated ‘yellow line,’ the perilous ceasefire demarcation in Gaza.
Since that time, Israel has continued its airstrikes on Gaza and has extended its control over the territory, reportedly breaching the ceasefire agreement. At least 449 Palestinians have lost their lives, with numerous casualties resulting from Israeli forces reportedly firing near the demarcation line.
Israel initiated a significant military operation in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Despite causing the deaths of more than 71,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and injuring over 171,000 individuals, the campaign did not meet its stated objectives.
