Witkoff meets with Arab, Turkish mediators to review phase two of Gaza ceasefire in Miami

Representatives from the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey met in Miami, Florida, to review next steps in the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, according to a joint statement issued on Saturday by US envoy Steve Witkoff.

The meeting focused on preparations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, with consultations set to continue in the coming weeks, the statement said.

"We reviewed the next steps in the phased implementation of the comprehensive peace plan related to Gaza," the statement said, adding that discussions would continue to advance the second phase of the agreement.

According to the statement, the first phase of the ceasefire has achieved "notable progress", including the expansion of humanitarian assistance, the return of the bodies of Israeli captives, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a reduction in the intensity of hostilities.

It added that talks on the second phase stressed "the importance of enabling a governing authority in Gaza under a unified Gaza authority to protect civilians and maintain public order".

The mediators also expressed support for the establishment of a Peace Council "as soon as possible" to act as a transitional administration overseeing civil governance, security arrangements and reconstruction efforts. The statement underlined the need for sequencing, coordination and effective monitoring in partnership with local institutions in Gaza and international partners.

The joint statement reaffirmed full commitment to a 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, calling on all parties to fulfil their obligations, exercise restraint and cooperate with monitoring mechanisms.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel’s repeated violations of the Gaza ceasefire were making the process "incredibly difficult", noting that all parties shared this assessment.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday following the Miami talks, Fidan said the discussions and understandings reached were "encouraging".

"With the first phase completed, discussions have now begun on the criteria for transitioning to the second phase," he said, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency. He added that a preliminary study on Gaza’s reconstruction had been presented and discussed.

Fidan said Gaza must be governed by its own residents and warned against any territorial division of the enclave. He also said discussions had taken place on establishing a timeline to transfer Gaza’s administration to a technocratic committee, alongside parallel talks on activating the proposed Peace Council.

On the possibility of an international stabilisation force, Fidan said Turkey had presented its perspective while also listening to other views. He described the meeting as the most senior-level gathering since talks held in Sharm el-Sheikh, stressing the central importance of humanitarian aid, an issue he said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prioritises.

The Axios news website reported earlier that the Miami meeting was the highest-level gathering between the mediators and the United States since the Gaza agreement was signed last autumn, aimed at agreeing on steps to pressure both Israel and Hamas to meet their commitments.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said mediators would hold a further meeting on Friday to develop a framework for transitioning to the second phase of the ceasefire.

Speaking during a visit to Washington, Al Thani said preparations were under way with the US side for a meeting of all mediators to outline how to move forward. He warned that delays in forming an administration committee for Gaza were placing the agreement at risk.

Earlier this week, Al Thani said Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire "place the mediators in embarrassing positions", confirming that Qatar had raised concerns over ongoing Israeli bombardment and targeted killings in Gaza.

He also reiterated Doha’s position that humanitarian aid must enter Gaza without conditions and rejected the idea of a stabilisation force tasked with protecting one side only.

The first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began on 10 October last year. Palestinian officials say Israel has violated the agreement on a near-daily basis, resulting in hundreds of deaths.