The Day of the Official Phase Two Launch

Morning editorial attention was split between the lethal effects of a polar storm—which claimed several lives in Gaza’s displacement camps—and the finalization of a Cairo-backed technocratic committee. While reports initially focused on names like Ali Shaath and the role of Nickolay Mladenov in summoning appointees, the narrative shifted as the Trump administration prepared for a major policy announcement. By midday, media outlets prioritized the formalization of this administrative transition, noting that Hamas expressed no objection to the proposed committee members. Concurrently, editors highlighted a security breach in the Israeli military that exposed 2,000 files, as well as ongoing ceasefire violations in Rafah and Khan Younis. In the evening, the editorial focus converged on U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s official declaration of the start of 'Phase Two.' This announcement solidified the move toward technocratic governance and reconstruction, despite Netanyahu's public insistence that no withdrawal would occur without the complete demilitarization of Hamas.