AP News in Brief at 12:04 a.m. EDT

U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened for a marathon meeting on Monday, leaving the fate of the Gaza ceasefire uncertain. While officials expressed moderate optimism, no concrete commitment was made by Israel to a U.S.-proposed plan. Hamas had already agreed to the proposal, but American negotiators agreed to Israeli demands that disarmament occur before reconstruction in Gaza.

They did not publicly confirm that Israel would withdraw from the 60% of Gaza currently occupied by Israeli troops, a significant obstacle in the plan. The talks followed Netanyahu's rejection of a 15-point U.S.-backed road map, insisting on disarmament before any withdrawal. The 60-day deadline for an Iran peace deal set by President Trump expired on Monday, and talks have not progressed since then.

Major sticking points include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. blockade on Iran, with no signs of compromise or detailed nuclear talks. The U.S. lacks viable options to withdraw from the war it initiated alongside Israel, as conceding to Iran's demands would mean accepting control over a vital international waterway and admitting defeat.

Escalating the unpopular conflict could strain U.S. missile defenses, harm the global economy, and raise gas prices before U.S. elections. The Trump administration temporarily paused construction of a contentious border project in Texas' Big Bend National Park, citing a "personal, on-the-ground evaluation" to address national security threats while preserving the park's pristine environment.