WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have expressed support for the near-term establishment and operationalization of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration in Gaza, U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff said Saturday.

The representatives of the four countries, during their talks in Miami, Florida on Friday, reviewed the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, said Witkoff on X, adding further consultations will continue in the coming weeks to advance the implementation of the second phase.

"The first phase has yielded progress, including expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities," Witkoff said.

"In our discussions regarding phase two, we emphasized enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order," he said.

Witkoff said that the four countries also called on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements.

Despite the latest ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect in October, Israel had continued to carry out strikes in Gaza, killing more than 380 people and injuring over 1,000 others, Gaza's health authorities said last week. Enditem