President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel gathered at the White House for crucial talks concerning the future of Gaza. These discussions coincide with a period of intense diplomatic activity and ongoing conflict, making the outcome highly anticipated. Here’s a detailed look at the latest developments:
**Current Ceasefire Landscape**
Current ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Israel do not directly involve Hamas. However, former President Trump’s proposed plan explicitly requires actions from Hamas, most notably the release of all Israeli hostages. This means any agreement reached with Israel remains tentative, pending Hamas’s compliance.
**Tense Atmosphere at the White House**
A palpable tension filled the State Dining Room of the White House as American and Israeli journalists awaited the joint news conference with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Unlike typical, often predictable, diplomatic briefings, anticipation for this event was notably high, with many uncertain of its precise direction or outcome.
**Qatar’s Mediation Efforts**
Qatari officials are currently in Washington, engaging in delicate diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza. Qatar, along with Egypt, has been a crucial intermediary since the war began. However, a recent Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha in September had raised doubts about Qatar’s continued mediation role.
**Hamas’s Stance on Peace Plans**
Hamas leaders assert they have not been privy to the peace plan currently being developed by Israel, the United States, and various Arab nations. This signals a likely clash, as Hamas remains steadfast in its refusal to disarm and rejects any international governance over Gaza. According to senior Hamas official Taher al-Nounou, ‘no one contacted us, nor were we part of the negotiations around it.’ He emphasized Hamas’s unwillingness to demilitarize, a key Israeli demand.
**Tony Blair’s Role in Gaza Reconstruction**
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is emerging as a significant figure in discussions about Gaza’s post-conflict reconstruction. He has been actively championing a plan for a Gaza International Transitional Authority – a UN-mandated administration with a multinational security force aimed at stabilizing the devastated region. Blair himself is now a leading candidate to lead this authority. The Middle East has consistently been a focal point, albeit a controversial one, throughout Blair’s career post-Downing Street. He previously served for eight years as an envoy for the Quartet, a diplomatic group involving the U.S., UN, EU, and Russia, which largely failed to achieve a peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. His appointment in 2007, immediately after leaving his premiership, was met with division due to his strong support for the Iraq War under President George W. Bush and his close ties to Israel, which fostered distrust among many Palestinians. Despite these controversies, Blair has cultivated strong relationships with Arab leaders, including those in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, through his Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. He has defended his engagement with figures like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, even amidst accusations linking the Prince to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a 2024 interview, Blair stated, ‘I don’t think any of us who believe we should engage with Saudi Arabia has ever dialed back our disapproval of that. But I do think that what is happening in Saudi Arabia is a social revolution which has immense and positive implications for our security, and for the Middle East.’ He highlighted ongoing normalization talks between Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Israel as evidence of the benefits of engaging with such leaders, though these talks are currently paused due to the Gaza conflict.
**Trump Welcomes Netanyahu**
At the White House, President Trump personally greeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel upon his arrival. Trump complimented Netanyahu’s demeanor and expressed ‘great confidence’ to assembled reporters that peace would soon be achieved in Gaza.
**Hostage Families’ Plea**
Families of Israeli hostages are desperately looking to the meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump as a chance for the immediate release of their loved ones held in Gaza. Although many hostages have been returned, an estimated 20 individuals from the initial 2023 Hamas attack are still believed to be alive. Concerned that the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza City puts these remaining captives at risk, many families are urging Trump to compel Netanyahu to accept a deal. Ilana Gritzewsky, a former hostage whose partner, Matan, remains captive, pleaded this week, ‘President Trump, you have the power to end the war and bring all the hostages home.’
**The Palestinian Authority’s Potential Role**
During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House meeting with President Trump, various proposals emerged for ending the Gaza conflict and establishing post-war governance. A key question remains the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which currently governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and aspires to be the legitimate government of a future Palestinian state. Established in 1994 by the Oslo Accords, the PA was envisioned as a temporary administration leading to an independent Palestinian state. Despite its cooperation with Israel on security matters in the West Bank, relations have been strained. Last week, PA President Mahmoud Abbas, 89, who has been in power since 2005 without national elections since 2006, delivered a video address to the UN General Assembly. He accused Israel of ‘war crimes’ in Gaza, a speech he gave virtually after the Trump administration denied him and his delegation entry visas on national security grounds. Critics often label Abbas’s leadership as corrupt and authoritarian, with recent polls indicating a widespread desire among Palestinians for his resignation. Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have echoed these criticisms, with Netanyahu stating at the UN last week, ‘The Palestinian Authority is corrupt to the core.’ Conversely, PA supporters argue its corruption is no worse than other Arab governments and that Israeli occupation impedes its effectiveness. This month, several nations, including some Israeli allies like France, Britain, and Canada, formally recognized Palestinian statehood, joining nearly 150 countries. This largely symbolic act, supporting Palestinian self-determination, further isolated Israel, which, along with its Washington allies, opposes such recognition, viewing it as a reward for Hamas, the group that controls Gaza and initiated the 2023 attack. Hamas and the PA are long-standing rivals for Palestinian leadership. Angered by international statehood endorsements, Israeli officials have hinted at annexing parts of the West Bank, though Trump has stated he would not permit this. Ending the Gaza war faces significant hurdles, with Israel and Hamas deeply divided on core issues, especially after Israel’s recent ground offensive in Gaza City. Abbas has declared Gaza an integral part of a future Palestinian state, offering for his government to take responsibility and vowing that Hamas would have no post-war governing role, urging them to disarm. However, new proposals for Gaza’s governance vary; one suggests a limited PA role with substantial reforms to address corruption and security concerns, while another, the ‘New York declaration’ backed by 142 countries, proposes a transitional technocratic committee under the PA, with elections within a year of a ceasefire. Hamas, meanwhile, stated Sunday that it had received no new proposals and that ceasefire negotiations are stalled. The deep animosity between the PA and Hamas stems from Hamas’s 2006 legislative election victory over Abbas’s Fatah movement, followed by Hamas’s violent takeover of Gaza in 2007. All reconciliation attempts have failed. Abbas condemned the 2023 Hamas attack, advocating for a modern Palestinian state with a peaceful transfer of power, excluding an armed Hamas. Hamas, in turn, rejected Abbas’s stance on their post-war role as an ‘infringement on our Palestinian people’s inherent right to self-determination,’ and vowed not to disarm ‘as long as the occupation continues.’ Ephrat Livni contributed to this update.
**Netanyahu Faces Right-Wing Pressure**
During his meeting with President Trump to discuss Gaza’s future, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under significant pressure from his hardline right-wing coalition. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich outlined ‘red lines’ to Netanyahu, insisting on a permanent Israeli military presence in Gaza and completely rejecting any role for the Palestinian Authority in its governance. These demands could severely complicate any potential agreement acceptable to Israel, the U.S., and Arab partners, let alone Hamas. Critics frequently accuse Netanyahu of prioritizing his right-wing allies over securing a pragmatic ceasefire deal to free remaining hostages in Gaza, an accusation he denies.
**Emerging Peace Plans for Gaza**
As President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel prepared for their White House meeting on Monday, discussions centered on various new proposals aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza and establishing post-war governance. The recent U.N. General Assembly prominently featured debates on this conflict and the future of the besieged territory. While President Trump expressed optimism about reaching a peace deal last week, similar past statements underscore the significant hurdles remaining. Key disagreements persist between Israel and Hamas, and the fighting has intensified with Israel’s recent ground offensive in Gaza City. Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking at the UN on Friday, reiterated his resolve to continue the Gaza City campaign. Meanwhile, Hamas declared on Sunday that it had received no new proposals from mediators, indicating a stalemate in negotiations. Here’s an overview of the latest plans addressing the war’s end, post-war governance, and the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza:
The Trump Plan
U.S. envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, laid out the broad outlines of an American peace plan to Arab and Muslim-majority leaders at the U.N. last week. This plan reportedly stipulates that Hamas must release all living hostages and the remains of former captives within 48 hours of an agreement. It also offers amnesty to Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence with Israel and guarantees safe passage out of Gaza for those wishing to leave. The American proposal also commits both sides to a new dialogue on peaceful coexistence and includes a pledge that Israel will cease attacks on Qatar. Qatar, a crucial U.S. ally and co-mediator with Egypt in Gaza peace talks, was angered by Israeli airstrikes on its capital, Doha, on September 9th, which unsuccessfully targeted Hamas officials. The success of Trump’s efforts to end the war likely hinges on his willingness to pressure Netanyahu, who has steadfastly refused to halt military operations before achieving Israel’s objectives. Netanyahu’s stance has hardened further as several Western nations recently recognized a Palestinian state. In a Sunday interview with Fox News, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel and the U.S. are still developing the plan and declined to discuss specifics to avoid preempting their ongoing conversations, stating, ‘We’re working on it; it’s not been finalized yet. I hope we can make it a go.’
The Blair Plan
Another proposal suggests that Gaza be governed by a ‘Gaza International Transitional Authority.’ Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is reportedly being considered to lead this authority. This Transitional Authority would be supported by a multinational security force tasked with securing borders, preventing the resurgence of armed groups, disrupting weapons smuggling, and neutralizing asymmetric threats. The Blair proposal also addresses Palestinian fears of permanent displacement by enabling the Transitional Authority to issue ‘protected departure certificates,’ ensuring those who leave Gaza can return. While the proposal doesn’t explicitly mention Hamas, it outlines a limited governance role for the Palestinian Authority, a more moderate rival that cooperates with Israel on security in the West Bank. Recognizing existing criticisms of the PA’s corruption and mismanagement, this plan calls for significant reforms, including in its security practices. It also emphasizes that decisions made by the Transitional Authority and the Palestinian Authority should align with the eventual unification of all Palestinian territory under the PA.
The French-Saudi Plan
A third initiative, known as the ‘New York declaration,’ received support from 142 countries at the General Assembly. Led by France and Saudi Arabia, this plan advocates for Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the deployment of a UN-organized international security force. It also demands that Hamas be prohibited from governing Gaza and agree to transfer its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. This proposal envisions post-war Gaza being managed by a transitional committee of technocrats operating under the PA’s umbrella, with elections to be held within a year of a ceasefire. Maggie Haberman contributed to this report.