Trump's Gaza plan: US holds discreet talks with Israel
Photo: Steve Witkoff (Getty Images)
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are planning a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Bloomberg.
The media reports that the meeting is expected to take place on Saturday amid the launch of the Board of Peace to oversee postwar Gaza and rising tensions surrounding Iran.
Netanyahu's office spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian confirmed that a meeting is planned but declined to specify the timing or agenda. The US Embassy in Jerusalem declined to comment.
At the same time, Reuters reported that Witkoff and Kushner have already held talks with Netanyahu, with Gaza topping the agenda. The discussions come amid US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas—an agreement that has repeatedly collapsed.
On January 22, the United States announced plans to build a so-called "New Gaza" from scratch. The proposal includes housing construction, data centers, and seaside resorts as part of a broader postwar stabilization strategy.
Meanwhile, Ali Shaat, head of the US-backed transitional Palestinian committee tasked with the temporary administration of Gaza, said the Rafah border crossing could reopen as early as next week.
According to the report, Israel plans to limit the number of Palestinians entering Gaza from Egypt to allow more people to leave ahead of the crossing's reopening.
Trump's Board of Peace
On January 22, speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald Trump announced the establishment of a Board of Peace. It was later revealed which countries would be invited to take part.
The Board of Peace is expected to begin by addressing the situation in Gaza before shifting its focus to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and other global crises.
The initiative has been met with caution from leading world powers. Under the proposed terms, each permanent member would be required to contribute $1 billion.
Russia's participation has drawn particular attention. Russian leader Vladimir Putin was among the invitees. The Kremlin confirmed it received the invitation through diplomatic channels, saying Moscow is reviewing the details of the proposed format.
