CAIRO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- All members of the newly formed Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with administering the Gaza Strip have arrived in Egypt and begun meetings in preparation for their entry into the enclave, Egypt's state-run Al-Qahera News channel reported on Thursday.
The committee, headed by Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, a veteran engineer and former deputy planning minister in the Palestinian Authority, arrived after U.S. special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Al-Qahera News quoted Egyptian sources as saying.
An Egyptian source told Xinhua the arrival was delayed by a day due to Israeli obstruction. The U.S. is expected to soon announce the formation of a "peace council" to oversee the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and support reconstruction efforts.
Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye announced on Wednesday the formation of the committee, describing the move as an important development toward enhancing stability and improving humanitarian conditions in the enclave. The announcement followed a Cairo meeting of Palestinian factions that reaffirmed commitment to the truce and called on Israel to halt its aggression and open crossings.
The ongoing fragile ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the U.S., took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. Gaza health authorities report Thursday that at least 451 people have been killed and 1,251 injured since it began. Since the conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian death toll stands at over 71,441, with 171,329 others wounded, the authorities added. ■
