In a critical diplomatic move, President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy is set to convene with key Middle Eastern officials this Friday to breathe new life into the delicate Gaza ceasefire agreement. This meeting, aimed at advancing the fragile peace accord into its subsequent phase, will take place in Miami, as disclosed by a State Department official under the condition of anonymity due to the meeting’s confidential nature.

Steve Witkoff, entrusted by Trump to spearhead peace negotiations, will engage with representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. These nations have been instrumental in mediating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which was brokered by the United States and initiated on October 10. The ceasefire marked a significant pause in over two years of conflict.

During this pivotal gathering, the officials will delve into the operational aspects of Phase 2 of the ceasefire, focusing on maintaining the tenuous peace and addressing any emerging challenges. The initial phase saw a mutual exchange, with Hamas releasing hostages and Israel reciprocating by freeing numerous Palestinian prisoners and facilitating increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been ravaged by the prolonged conflict.

However, the ceasefire has encountered obstacles, with both parties trading accusations of breaches. The upcoming discussions in Miami aim to address these issues and ensure the continuity of peace efforts in the region.

In the first phase, Hamas returned the hostages it was holding while Israel returned thousands of Palestinian prisoners and allowed greater quantities of humanitarian aid into war-battered Gaza. The ceasefire has since stalled, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

The second phase, one far more challenging, is supposed to involve the deployment of an international security force, an internationally supervised technocratic governing body for Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and further Israeli troop withdrawals from the territory. The process is to be overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by President Donald Trump.

Neither the board nor the international force have yet assembled. Israel has expressed opposition to the potential participation of various countries, including Turkey.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the participation of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Friday’s talks in Miami. The Qatari prime minister, who doubles as the country’s foreign minister, said in an interview in Al Jazeera that he, too, would be joining the meeting.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani added that there was an “urgent need” to advance to the next phase and form a Palestinian civil administration in Gaza. He said that the international force must not “protect one party at the expense of another.”

He also accused Israel of repeated violations, saying they risk undermining the agreement and placing mediators in an “embarrassing position.”

Hamas is calling for more international pressure on Israel to open key border crossings, cease deadly strikes and allow more aid into the strip. Israel is demanding the militants return the remains of a final hostage, Ran Gvili.

Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza are struggling with a lack of aid. Food remains scarce as the territory struggles to bounce back from famine, which affected parts of Gaza during the war.

The initial Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Almost all hostages or their remains have been returned in ceasefires or other deals.

Israel’s two-year campaign in Gaza has killed more than 70,660 Palestinians, roughly half of them women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count.

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Lee reported from Washington. Samy Magdy in Cairo and Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report.

Find more of AP’s Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war