Marathon US-Israel meeting produces optimism but no firm commitment to American plan for Gaza

A lengthy discussion on Monday between U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the fate of the Gaza ceasefire uncertain, with officials expressing cautious optimism but providing no concrete commitments from Israel to the new U.S. plan. Hamas had already accepted the proposal. U.S. negotiators seemed to go along with Israeli demands that Hamas disarm before any rebuilding could occur.

They did not explicitly confirm that Israel had agreed to withdraw from the 60% of Gaza currently under Israeli control, a major sticking point in the plan that Hamas had insisted on during earlier talks. The negotiations followed a day earlier when Netanyahu rejected a 15-point U.S.-backed roadmap, insisting there would be no withdrawal without first disarming Hamas.

The talks included U.S. negotiators, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, and officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. The talks focused on two working groups: one on disarming and demilitarizing Gaza, and the other on public health issues for Gaza. Both sides agreed that demilitarization should be "prompt" and completed before any reconstruction.

The demilitarization was expected to include all weapons, light and heavy, and tunnels. Hamas demanded that Israel halt attacks and withdraw to the "yellow line," a line that has not been precisely defined. Israeli forces have moved beyond it, controlling about 60% of Gaza. Several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, condemned Israel's rejection of the roadmap, calling on the Board of Peace and U.S. to take immediate and concrete measures to ensure the plan's implementation.