Source: Politico Europe
Introduction
The White House has intensified its diplomatic efforts to navigate the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with envoy Jared Kushner securing an agreement to establish specialized working groups focused on Gaza disarmament and public health. This development follows extensive discussions held in Jerusalem between the U.S. delegation and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The creation of these committees marks a notable shift in the strategic landscape, coming just one week after the Israeli government formally dismissed a 15-point peace proposal backed by the United States and Hamas. As international stakeholders attempt to broker a path forward, the U.S. and Israel have begun coordinating on a framework that aims to address both humanitarian concerns and long-term security requirements for the Gaza Strip.
What Happened
During a series of meetings on Monday, Jared Kushner, accompanied by Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, reached an understanding with Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the formation of two distinct working groups. These bodies are tasked with managing the complex transition of security and public health infrastructure within the territory.
Kushner characterized the potential for progress as a significant opportunity for regional stability. In a public appearance on Fox News, he suggested that if Hamas complies with a 60 to 90-day window to voluntarily surrender both its weapon stockpiles and underground tunnel networks, it would represent a transformative security achievement for Israel.
Background
The diplomatic climate remains highly volatile, particularly regarding the interpretation of disarmament terms. While the Board of Peace roadmap—published earlier this month—envisions a total transfer of control to a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), the parties involved remain divided on the specific definitions of what "disarmament" entails.
Previously, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad indicated that his organization interpreted the roadmap as requiring the containment or storage of heavy weapons under the oversight of the NCAG. Conversely, the Israeli leadership has maintained a hardline stance, asserting that no military withdrawal will occur until a comprehensive and absolute demilitarization of the enclave is achieved.
Timeline
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Publication of Board of Peace roadmap | August 2026 |
| Netanyahu rejects 15-point peace plan | Second week of August 2026 |
| Kushner meets Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya | Sunday, August 2026 |
| Kushner meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem | Monday, August 2026 |
| Proposed disarmament window | 60 to 90 days |
Key Details
The Board of Peace has issued a formal statement clarifying that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will maintain their presence in Gaza until a state of total demilitarization is verified. This requirement extends to all military assets, including light and heavy weaponry, as well as the destruction of the tunnel infrastructure utilized by militants.
State Department officials and the White House have directed all inquiries regarding the specifics of these meetings to the Board of Peace. The discussions follow a high-stakes diplomatic trip by Kushner, who held separate consultations with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo just one day prior to his arrival in Jerusalem.
Impact
Analysts suggest that the gap between the various parties' definitions of disarmament creates a significant hurdle for any lasting peace agreement. Robert Danin, a former State Department official and former head of the Quartet Mission in Jerusalem, noted that the current criteria are exceptionally stringent.
According to Danin, the requirement to remove every individual weapon and tunnel serves as an absolute threshold that may be functionally impossible to satisfy. He warned that because the discovery of even a single remaining weapon could be interpreted as grounds for Israel to halt a withdrawal, the current framework risks stalling the peace process indefinitely.
What Happens Next
The newly formed working groups are expected to begin their operational mandates as the parties attempt to reconcile their conflicting interpretations of the disarmament process. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Hamas will engage with the 60 to 90-day timeline proposed by the U.S. envoy or if the stringent requirements set by the Board of Peace will lead to a collapse of the current roadmap.
Israel’s position remains anchored in the refusal to remove its military footprint until it is convinced that the security threat posed by Hamas has been fully eliminated. All eyes are now on the Board of Peace to see if their oversight of the NCAG can bridge the divide between the conflicting demands of the Israeli government and Hamas leadership.
