Marathon US-Israel Talks Yield Optimism but No Gaza Plan Commitment/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ A marathon meeting between Jared Kushner and Benjamin Netanyahu produced cautious optimism but no firm Israeli commitment to the latest U.S.-backed Gaza road map. Israel and the U.S.-created Board of Peace agreed that Gaza must be fully demilitarized before reconstruction begins, while offering no public commitment on an Israeli withdrawal. The unresolved dispute leaves Gaza’s reconstruction, civilian governance and the deployment of international forces on hold.
President Donald Trump’s then-senior adviser Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019.
Quick Look
- Kushner and Netanyahu held extended talks Monday.
- Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov also participated.
- Netanyahu’s office called the talks “deep and constructive.”
- Hamas has accepted the 15-point U.S.-backed proposal.
- Netanyahu rejected the road map days before the meeting.
- Israel insists Hamas must disarm before reconstruction.
- Israel made no public commitment to withdraw from Gaza.
- Israeli troops currently control about 60% of the territory.
- Two working groups will address demilitarization and public health.
- The Board of Peace says all weapons and tunnels must be eliminated.
- A spokesperson called Israel’s commitment a “work in progress.”
- Kushner met Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday.
- Hamas wants attacks halted and Israeli troops returned to the “yellow line.”
- Saudi Arabia and the UAE accused Israel of obstructing peace.
- Hamas would transfer weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee.
- The committee has not yet entered Gaza.
- Reconstruction and international force deployment remain suspended.
- Netanyahu faces an election on Oct. 27.
Deep Look
Marathon talks end without firm Israeli commitment
JERUSALEM — A lengthy meeting Monday between U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the future of the Gaza ceasefire uncertain.
Officials expressed moderate optimism after the talks but announced no concrete Israeli commitment to the latest American proposal.
Hamas has already accepted the 15-point, U.S.-backed road map.
Netanyahu rejected it days before the meeting, insisting that Israeli troops would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas was disarmed.
Disarmament takes priority over reconstruction
American negotiators appeared to accept Israel’s demand that Hamas’ disarmament must be completed before reconstruction begins.
Israel and the U.S.-created Board of Peace agreed that demilitarization “should be prompt and completed before any reconstruction,” Netanyahu’s office said.
That position could complicate negotiations with Hamas, which wants Israel to end its attacks and withdraw while the group gradually transfers its weapons.
No public indication emerged that Israel had agreed to retreat from the roughly 60% of Gaza currently controlled by its military.
Netanyahu describes talks as constructive
Netanyahu’s office described the meeting as “deep and constructive.”
Israel and the Board of Peace agreed to establish two working groups.
One group will focus on disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza.
The second will address public health conditions across the devastated Palestinian territory.
The announcement represented limited procedural progress but did not resolve the dispute over Israeli withdrawal.
Board demands removal of weapons and tunnels
A Board of Peace official said Gaza’s demilitarization must include “every weapon, light and heavy, and every tunnel.”
The official spoke anonymously because the meeting was held behind closed doors.
“Backed by President Donald Trump, the parties share clear goals: a fully demilitarized and deradicalized Gaza that poses no threat to Israel, and where Gazans can pursue prosperity and dignity peacefully,” the official said.
The statement aligned closely with Israel’s security demands but did not mention corresponding commitments involving troop withdrawal.
Officials express cautious optimism
A second Board of Peace official described the meeting as “very productive” and said it produced agreement on “a path forward.”
“The Israelis are going to give this a chance. Now it’s up to Hamas to show if it truly intends to comply,” the official said.
However, when asked whether Israel had formally accepted the U.S. road map, a spokesperson for Mladenov called it a “work in progress.”
The response underscored the absence of a completed agreement.
Blair and Mladenov join Kushner
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair attended the talks with Netanyahu.
Nickolay Mladenov, director of the Board of Peace, also participated.
A source familiar with the plans and a diplomatic source confirmed their attendance on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.
The meeting addressed issues affecting approximately 2 million Palestinians, including Gaza’s reconstruction and its future political administration.
Kushner meets Hamas leader in Egypt
Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, met Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo on Sunday.
The rare talks lasted approximately two hours and focused on disarmament.
Officials representing Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, the countries mediating the ceasefire, also attended.
A regional official and a Hamas official confirmed the meeting anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Hamas demands Israeli pullback
The Hamas official said al-Hayya demanded that Israel stop attacking Gaza before implementation begins.
He also called for Israeli forces to withdraw to the so-called “yellow line” dividing the territory.
The boundary was never defined precisely.
Israeli troops have moved beyond it and currently control approximately 60% of Gaza.
In May, Netanyahu said Israel planned to increase its control to 70% while “tightening the grip” on Hamas “from every direction.”
Regional governments criticize Israel
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries issued a joint statement Sunday condemning Israel’s rejection of the road map.
Israel “now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza,” the governments said.
JOrdan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the countries mediating the ceasefire also signed the statement.
Their foreign ministers called on the United States and the Board of Peace to take “immediate and concrete measures” to prevent any party from blocking implementation.
Gaza residents balance hope and skepticism
Some Palestinians hope the renewed diplomatic effort will bring an end to the war triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Others doubt that another round of meetings will improve conditions.
“A conference here and there, it is all lies. We need a definitive solution that would work for everybody,” said Mohammad Abu al-Qombuz.
Abu al-Qombuz lives in a Gaza City tent camp and is among the territory’s vast displaced population.
Technocratic committee awaits entry
Under the road map, Hamas would transfer its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee.
The committee would assume responsibility for Gaza’s daily administration.
It has not yet entered the territory.
The transfer is intended to remove Hamas from governing Gaza while allowing a Palestinian civilian body to oversee services and reconstruction.
However, the plan cannot proceed without agreement on disarmament, Israeli withdrawal and security arrangements.
Palestinian state remains major obstacle
Hamas has linked the surrender of its heaviest weapons to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The U.S. road map includes a “credible pathway toward achieving Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
Israel’s current government rejects Palestinian statehood.
That fundamental disagreement creates another barrier to a final settlement beyond the dispute over which side must act first.
Reconstruction and international force remain on hold
Other elements of the ceasefire cannot proceed until the road map is approved.
The reconstruction of Gaza remains suspended despite extensive wartime destruction.
Plans to deploy international forces are also on hold.
Those forces would separate Israeli troops from areas administered by the Palestinian technocratic committee.
The delay leaves Gaza without a clear system for future security, governance or rebuilding.
Israeli election adds political uncertainty
Netanyahu faces a difficult election on Oct. 27.
He is seeking to retain power with a coalition that includes ministers supporting a hard-line approach to Gaza.
It remains unclear whether he will take decisive action on the ceasefire before voters cast their ballots.
The approaching anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack could further intensify domestic political pressure and complicate any concessions.
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