Mike Baker

But behind the scenes, some of these efforts appear more procedural and theatrical than meaningful.

The Egyptian official said Hamas plans to meet with other Palestinian factions this week to finalize the committee structure and that the delegation will be led by Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil al-Khayah.

Even so, none of that resolves the more basic question about who would ultimately be approved to govern or when.

Back in Washington, Trump administration officials are candid about the pace so far.

Progress on the most sensitive developments of the plan, including Hamas's disarmament, the deployment of an international security force, and large-scale reconstruction, have been limited.

President Trump has said the Board of Peace will play a central role in overseeing Gaza's transition, including additional Israeli troop withdrawals, but those mechanisms are still being assembled.

One tangible step has come from Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu confirms that Nikolai Mladenov has been selected as the board's director general.

Now, Mladenov, a former Bulgarian defense and foreign minister, previously served as the UN's Middle East peace envoy from 2015 to 2020 and was known for maintaining working relations with Israeli and Palestinian actors during periods of heightened tensions.

So, for those of you trying to understand the current state of affairs here, well, essentially, the framework for Gaza's post-war governance exists largely on paper.

The second phase of the ceasefire is unworkable until Hamas disarms, and the current first phase ceasefire is a fragile agreement barely holding together.

And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon Bulletin for Monday, the 12th of January.

Now, if you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, please reach out to me at pdbatthefirsttv.com.

Hey, Mike Baker here.

Well, it is 2026.

I think you probably knew that.

So, did you make any New Year's resolutions?

I made a few, including to get better sleep every night.

Look, sleep is basically the foundation for the rest of your day.

With a good night's sleep, well, you've got more energy, you handle stress better, you think more clearly.