Senior officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey approached high-level US officials, asking them to prevent Israel from striking in the Gaza Strip, according to a source familiar with the details who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
Their appeal included a request to block Israeli strikes both inside the Yellow Line and in other unspecified locations.
This request also followed a similar one that was made over the weekend during a meeting between Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
In these weekend talks, senior officials from the three mediating countries proposed reaching an understanding with Hamas under which the terrorist group would dismantle its “heavy weapons” – defined as “offensive weaponry” – while retaining only light arms.
“The message from those officials was: You do not want the war to resume. You also do not believe that a multinational force will disarm the terrorist organization. Therefore, this is the proposal that can work at the moment,” a source familiar with the discussions said.
This proposal has been raised repeatedly in recent months, including in talks between the mediators and senior Hamas officials, and is now being formally presented to the Trump administration.
In turn, Israeli officials have made clear in recent weeks that Israel will agree to rehabilitate the Gaza Strip only after the return of the final deceased hostage, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, and the complete disarmament of Hamas.
The mediating countries, however, believe the two processes should take place simultaneously.
“If you want to get Hamas to agree to give up even a portion of its weapons stockpile, then you have to offer it something in return. That could come in the form of rebuilding Gaza,” a regional diplomat told the Post.
US working with Qatar, Turkey, Egypt to establish Gaza Board of Peace soon
Meanwhile, discussions continue regarding the establishment of various bodies to govern the enclave. Trump announced that a “board of peace” encompassing regional and European leaders would be unveiled early next year.
Regarding the proposed technocratic government intended to administer the Gaza Strip, a list of names has been submitted to Israel and is currently under review by Israeli intelligence agencies.
Israeli officials have clarified that they will not agree to any involvement by figures affiliated with either the Palestinian Authority or Hamas in that government.
“The next key milestone regarding Gaza is the meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week,” a source familiar with the matter told the Post.
“There is hope that this will accelerate the approval of the list regarding the technocratic government. Everything is already in the hands of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Mossad. Now we are just waiting for final approval,” the source added.