US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: US Middle East negotiator and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as Washington pushed Israel to accept a 15-point, US-backed plan aimed at moving the Gaza ceasefire forward.
The meeting came after Netanyahu rejected parts of the proposed roadmap. The United States is now seeking Israel’s approval of the plan, with major issues still unresolved, including Hamas’ disarmament, an Israeli military withdrawal, Gaza’s reconstruction and who will control the territory in the future. The stakes are extremely high, with around 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza and much of the territory heavily damaged by the war.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: What Is the US-Backed Gaza Road Map?
The 15-point proposal is designed to provide a framework for ending the conflict and moving Gaza toward a post-war arrangement. Among its key provisions is the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, along with an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas has said it accepts the roadmap and has urged mediators and the US-created Board of Peace to “compel” Israel to accept the agreement. Israel, however, has taken a different position. Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas must completely give up its weapons before Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza. Israeli troops currently control roughly 60% of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has previously indicated that Israel could expand its control over additional areas.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: Why Did Kushner Meet Netanyahu?
Kushner’s meeting with Netanyahu was aimed at addressing the differences that have prevented the US-backed plan from moving ahead. The United States is attempting to secure Israel’s support for the roadmap after Hamas indicated that it was prepared to move forward with the proposal.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Board of Peace Director Nickolay Mladenov also participated in the meeting, according to people familiar with the discussions. They spoke anonymously because the meeting was held behind closed doors. The talks therefore brought together senior figures involved in the US diplomatic effort to find a way forward on the Gaza ceasefire and post-war arrangements.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: What Did Kushner Discuss With Hamas?
Kushner’s meeting with Netanyahu followed a more than two-hour meeting Sunday with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt. The discussions reportedly focused on Hamas’ disarmament and the conditions required for implementing the Gaza roadmap.
Officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which have been involved in mediation efforts, also attended the meeting with al-Hayya. According to a Hamas official, al-Hayya demanded that Israel stop its attacks on Gaza and pull its forces back to the so-called “yellow line” before implementation of the plan begins.
The yellow line refers to a demarcation inside Gaza linked to the ceasefire arrangement. However, its exact boundaries have not been clearly defined. Israeli forces have moved beyond the line and currently control around 60% of the territory. Netanyahu said in May that Israel intended to expand its control to about 70%, saying it would be “tightening the grip” on Hamas “from every direction.”
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: Why Is Hamas Disarmament a Major Issue?
Hamas’ disarmament is one of the biggest obstacles to implementing the proposed roadmap. Under the plan, Hamas would surrender its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee that is expected to oversee the day-to-day administration of Gaza. However, the committee has not yet begun operating inside the territory. Hamas has also connected the surrender of its most powerful weapons to progress toward Palestinian statehood. The roadmap calls for a “credible pathway toward achieving Palestinian self-determination and statehood.” That position creates another major disagreement because Israel’s current government opposes Palestinian statehood.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: Why Is Israeli Withdrawal Important?
The roadmap requires Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza as part of the wider ceasefire arrangement. But Netanyahu has said Israel will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. This creates a central disagreement over the order in which the agreement should be implemented. Hamas wants an Israeli withdrawal and an end to attacks before proceeding with key elements of the plan, while Israel wants Hamas’ weapons removed before making a full military withdrawal. With Israeli troops currently controlling about 60% of Gaza, resolving this issue will be critical to any further progress.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: Are Regional Countries Pressuring Israel?
Several countries in the region and beyond have increased pressure on Israel to support the roadmap. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the countries mediating the ceasefire, issued a joint statement on Sunday criticizing Israel’s rejection of the proposal.
The countries said, “Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.” They also called on the Board of Peace and the United States to take “immediate and concrete measures” to prevent any side from blocking implementation of the plan. Israel had not immediately responded to the statement.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: What Happens to Gaza Reconstruction?
Major parts of the proposed ceasefire arrangement remain frozen until the roadmap is accepted. This includes reconstruction efforts and plans for deploying international forces that would help separate Israeli troops from areas controlled by the Palestinian technocratic committee. The destruction across Gaza has created an urgent need for reconstruction, but large-scale rebuilding cannot fully move ahead while the political and security arrangements remain unresolved.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: Who Could Control Gaza After the War?
The roadmap envisages a Palestinian technocratic committee taking responsibility for the daily administration of Gaza. The committee would operate separately from Hamas and would be responsible for governing the territory during the proposed transition. However, the committee has not yet entered Gaza, and questions remain over security, political authority and the long-term future of the territory. The issue is closely linked to the wider question of Palestinian statehood, which remains strongly opposed by Netanyahu’s current government.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: What Political Pressure Is Netanyahu Facing?
Netanyahu is also facing domestic political pressure as he prepares for a difficult election scheduled for October 27. His governing coalition includes ministers who have taken a hard-line position on Gaza and Hamas. This could make it politically difficult for Netanyahu to accept a deal that requires major Israeli concessions, particularly regarding withdrawal from territory and the future governance of Gaza. It remains uncertain whether Netanyahu will take major steps toward implementing the ceasefire before the election.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: Why Is October 7 Significant?
Another important date is approaching: the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. That attack triggered the war and became the starting point of the conflict that has since devastated Gaza and caused major regional tensions. With the anniversary approaching, pressure is growing on negotiators to make progress toward a lasting ceasefire and a political framework for Gaza.
US Israel Iran War Latest Live News: What Are the Main Issues Still Blocking the Deal?
The biggest unresolved questions include whether Hamas will fully disarm, whether Israel will withdraw from Gaza and when that withdrawal would take place. Other major issues include who will administer Gaza after the war, when reconstruction can begin, whether international forces will be deployed and what guarantees Hamas would receive regarding Palestinian statehood.
The United States is attempting to narrow the differences between Israel and Hamas through Kushner’s latest diplomatic push. However, disagreements over disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s future governance and Palestinian statehood remain significant obstacles to implementing the proposed roadmap.
