In a bid to expedite the peace process, former President Donald Trump may leverage his close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Prior to this gathering, Netanyahu engaged in separate discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which Trump played a pivotal role in brokering, recent progress has stalled. Allegations of violations have surfaced from both camps, and noticeable rifts have begun to form between the US, Israel, and Arab nations regarding the future course of action.
According to a Western diplomat, there exists a “huge gulf” in understanding between the US-Israeli perspective on the mandate of the security force and the views of other significant regional powers and European governments. This disparity poses a challenge for unified progress.
The diplomat, speaking anonymously to share sensitive information, noted that while the US and Israel advocate for the force to assume a “commanding role” in security operations, including the disarmament of Hamas and other militant factions, there is apprehension among potential troop-contributing countries. They fear that such a mandate could transform the force into an “occupation force.”
Meanwhile, Hamas has signaled a willingness to discuss options such as “freezing or storing” its weaponry. However, it firmly maintains its stance on the right to armed resistance as long as Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories persists. A US official suggested that a potential strategy could involve offering financial incentives in return for weapons, reminiscent of a “buyback” scheme previously suggested by diplomat Witkoff.
Hamas has said it is ready to discuss “freezing or storing” its arsenal of weapons but insists it has a right to armed resistance as long as Israel occupies Palestinian territory. One US official said a potential plan might be to offer cash incentives in exchange for weapons, echoing a “buyback” program Witkoff has previously floated.
Questions about Gaza reconstruction
One displaced man in Khan Younis, Iyad Abu Sakla, said Trump needed to urge Netanyahu to allow Palestinians to return to their homes. Under the agreement, most Palestinians are permitted in a zone just under half the size of Gaza.
“We are exhausted. This displacement is bad; it’s cold and freezing. Enough lying to us and enough insulting our intelligence,” Sakla said.
Israeli bombardment and ground operations have transformed neighborhoods across Gaza into rubble-strewn wastelands, with blackened shells of buildings and mounds of debris stretching in all directions.
Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are pressing for a negotiated deal on disarming Hamas and on additional Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before moving to next elements of the plan, including deployment of the international security force and reconstruction, three Arab officials said.
Three other officials, including two Americans, said the United Arab Emirates has agreed to fund reconstruction, including new communities, although they said plans have not been settled.
All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations between the various countries. The UAE did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
