JERUSALEM (AP) 鈥� A marathon meeting Monday between U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left unclear, with officials signaling moderate optimism but offering no concrete commitment by Israel to the latest .
Hamas has already . 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鈥檚 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 the to move the ceasefire deal forward, saying there would be no withdrawal without disarmament.
A day earlier, in Egypt.
Former and the director of the , , 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 鈥榙eep and constructive鈥�
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the talks were 鈥渄eep and constructive.鈥� Israel and the board agreed to establish two working groups 鈥� 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 鈥渟hould be prompt and completed before any reconstruction,” the statement said.
A Board of Peace official said they also agreed that the demilitarization must include 鈥渆very weapon, light and heavy, and every tunnel.鈥� The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.
鈥淏acked 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,鈥� the official said.
Another Board of Peace official said the meeting was 鈥渧ery productive鈥� and resulted in agreement on 鈥渁 path forward.鈥�
“The Israelis are going to give this a chance. Now it鈥檚 up to Hamas to show if it truly intends to comply,鈥� 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 鈥渨ork in progress.鈥�
Meeting followed Kushner’s conversation with Hamas
Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law, met Sunday with 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.
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 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 鈥渢ightening the grip鈥� on Hamas 鈥渇rom every direction.鈥�
Several regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a statement Sunday condemning Israel鈥檚 rejection of the road map. They said Israel “now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.鈥� Other signers included Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the ceasefire mediators.
The foreign ministers鈥� statement called on the Board of Peace and the U.S. to take 鈥渋mmediate and concrete measures鈥� to keep any party from obstructing the plan鈥檚 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.
鈥淎 conference here and there, it is all lies. We need a definitive solution that would work for everybody,鈥� 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 鈥渃redible pathway toward achieving Palestinian self-determination and statehood,鈥� something Israel鈥檚 current government rejects.
Until the road map is agreed to, other elements of the ceasefire are on hold, including reconstruction and the deployment of 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 on Gaza, and it鈥檚 not clear whether he will take decisive steps on the ceasefire before then.
Also coming up is the anniversary of the 2023 attack.
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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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