Marathon US-Israel meeting produces optimism but no firm commitment to
American plan for Gaza
[August 18, 2026]
By JULIA FRANKEL, SAMY MAGDY and WAFAA SHURAFA
JERUSALEM (AP) — A marathon meeting Monday between U.S. negotiator Jared
Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the fate of
the Gaza ceasefire unclear, with officials signaling moderate optimism
but offering no concrete commitment by Israel to the latest
U.S.-proposed plan.
Hamas has already agreed to the proposal. American negotiators appeared
to acquiesce to Israeli demands that Hamas disarmament must come before
any reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian enclave. They did not
publicly signal that Israel had made any commitments to withdraw from
the 60% of Gaza that Israeli troops currently occupy.
That’s a major sticking point in the plan and one that Hamas had pressed
negotiators to compel Israel to fulfill prior to the meeting. The talks
came days after Netanyahu rejected the 15-point, U.S.-backed road map to
move the ceasefire deal forward, saying there would be no withdrawal
without disarmament.
A day earlier, Kushner met for two hours with Hamas' leader in Egypt.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the director of the
U.S.-created Board of Peace, Nickolay Mladenov, were also in the meeting
with Netanyahu, according to a source familiar with the plans and a
diplomatic source. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a
closed-door meeting.
At stake are the lives of some 2 million Palestinians in Gaza,
rebuilding plans and future control over the territory.
Netanyahu says talks were ‘deep and constructive’
In a statement, Netanyahu's office said the talks were “deep and
constructive.” Israel and the board agreed to establish two working
groups — one on the disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza and another
focused on public health issues for Gaza.
Israel and the board agreed that the demilitarization “should be prompt
and completed before any reconstruction," the statement said.
A Board of Peace official said they also agreed that the
demilitarization must include “every weapon, light and heavy, and every
tunnel.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the
closed-door meeting.
“Backed by President Donald Trump, the parties share clear goals: a
fully demilitarized and deradicalized Gaza that poses no threat to
Israel, and where Gazans can pursue prosperity and dignity peacefully,”
the official said.
Another Board of Peace official said the meeting was “very productive”
and resulted in agreement on “a path forward.”
"The Israelis are going to give this a chance. Now it’s up to Hamas to
show if it truly intends to comply,” said the official, who also spoke
on condition of anonymity.
Asked if Israel had committed to the U.S. plan for Gaza, a spokesperson
for Mladenov said it was a “work in progress.”
Meeting followed Kushner's conversation with Hamas
Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law, met Sunday with Hamas chief Khalil
al-Hayya in Cairo on disarmament, according to a regional official and a
Hamas official, who both spoke on condition of anonymity because they
were not authorized to talk to reporters.
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Palestinians remove iron from the rubble of buildings destroyed by
Israeli airstrikes during the war with Hamas, repair and recycle it
for construction, building tents or selling it, in Gaza City,
Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Officials from mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and Turkey also were
there.
The Hamas official said the Hamas leader demanded that Israel halt
its attacks on Gaza and withdraw to the so-called “yellow line”
dividing the territory before beginning implementation.
The yellow line was never precisely defined. Israeli forces have
moved beyond it and now control about 60% of Gaza. In May, Netanyahu
said the next step was to move to 70% control, with Israel
“tightening the grip” on Hamas “from every direction.”
Several regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates issued a statement Sunday condemning Israel’s rejection of
the road map. They said Israel "now bears responsibility for
obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.” Other signers
included Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the ceasefire mediators.
The foreign ministers’ statement called on the Board of Peace and
the U.S. to take “immediate and concrete measures” to keep any party
from obstructing the plan’s implementation.
Talks spark hope and doubt in Gaza
While some in Gaza hope that efforts to implement the road map will
bring an end to the war sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern
Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, others are skeptical.
Mohammad Abu al-Qombuz cast doubt on all talks and visits currently
taking place.
“A conference here and there, it is all lies. We need a definitive
solution that would work for everybody,” said Abu al-Qombuz, who
lives in a Gaza City tent camp, part of the territory's vast
displaced population.
Under the road map, Hamas would hand over weapons to the Palestinian
technocratic committee meant to oversee daily operations in the
territory. The committee has not yet entered Gaza.
But Hamas has linked the surrender of its heaviest weapons to the
creation of a Palestinian state, and the road map entails the
creation of a “credible pathway toward achieving Palestinian
self-determination and statehood,” something Israel’s current
government rejects.
Until the road map is agreed to, other elements of the ceasefire are
on hold, including reconstruction and the deployment of
international forces to separate Israeli forces from
committee-controlled areas.
Netanyahu faces a challenging election on Oct. 27 as he tries to
hold onto power with a coalition that includes ministers taking a
harsh line on Gaza, and it’s not clear whether he will take decisive
steps on the ceasefire before then.
Also coming up is the anniversary of the 2023 attack.
___
Frankel reported from Jerusalem, Magdy from Cairo and Shurafa from
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press journalists Sam Mednick
in Tel Aviv, Israel; Collin Binkley in Washington; and Sylvia Hui in
London contributed to this report.
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