The top confidants of President Donald Trump and Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met to discuss a proposal to end the conflict in Gaza that would require Hamas to release all Israeli hostages at the start of the ceasefire.
Axios reports Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. Following the meeting, Israel attempted to assassinate the Hamas negotiators in Qatar, making reaching a deal far less likely.
Hamas said the attack did not kill the negotiation team, which was meeting to discuss a ceasefire proposal made by Trump, but did kill five members of the organization and a Qatari security official.
While Kushner has no official role in Trump’s second administration, he met with Trump for two hours on Sunday. Additionally, he attended a high-level meeting on a plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza and rebuild the Strip as a tourist, tech, and energy hub.
During the meeting with Dermer, Witkoff, and Kushner proposed a deal with Hamas that would include releasing all the Israeli hostages at the beginning of the ceasefire. The proposal would require Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza if a suitable government in Gaza is formed.
Sources told Axios that Tel Aviv supported the deal as it does not give a timeline for the Israeli withdrawal. Officials told the outlet that Trump wanted Hamas and Tel Aviv to agree to a hostage exchange and a ceasefire before Israel launched its assault on Gaza City.
Israel has already conducted a substantial bombing campaign in the city. Netanyahu claimed the IDF destroyed 50 high-rise buildings. Israeli forces occupy about 40% of the city and told Palestinians they must leave.
