US-Backed Gaza Peace Council to Hold UN Briefing Amid Israeli Objections

The Peace Council, an initiative by former US President Donald Trump aimed at implementing his Gaza plan, will convene a special briefing on September 23 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The meeting, confirmed by The Times of Israel through an invitation sent to UN missions, will bring together council members, UN agencies, and the European Union. Discussions will focus on progress in disarming Hamas, upcoming projects, and the next phase of Gaza's reconstruction.

A key agenda item will be the presentation of plans by the National Committee for Governance of Gaza (NCAG), a Palestinian technocratic body intended to replace Hamas. The NCAG head will outline initial restoration projects valued at approximately $6 billion, designed for the first six months of operation.

However, the implementation of these projects and the broader Gaza plan is currently stalled due to Israel's rejection of the Peace Council's proposed sequence of steps. Israel insists on the complete disarmament of Hamas before any IDF withdrawal from Gaza and the commencement of large-scale reconstruction. Sources close to the Peace Council acknowledge that without Israeli approval, the projects will remain theoretical.

Council members hope that dialogue with Israel will resume after the Knesset elections on October 27. Israeli officials have consistently emphasized their demand for a clear order of operations: first, the full disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, followed by all other actions.