WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is set to chair a high-level meeting at the White House on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, focused on Gaza’s reconstruction and post-war future, as reported by Reuters. The session, involving key U.S. and Israeli diplomats, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, underscores Trump’s push to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict before the year’s end. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s March 18 airstrikes, which killed around 400 Palestinians, ending a two-month ceasefire.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier on Tuesday, confirmed the meeting, stating, “We’ve got a large meeting in the White House tomorrow, chaired by the president, and it’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together on the next day.” Witkoff, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss policy parameters, added, “We think that we’re going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year.” The urgency follows global outrage over images of starving Palestinians, particularly children, amid worsening conditions in Gaza.
The meeting builds on Trump’s controversial February 2025 proposal to “take over” Gaza, which suggested resettling Palestinians and redeveloping the enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” Facing backlash, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that no U.S. troops or funds would be committed, emphasizing temporary relocation. Arab leaders, including Egypt and Jordan, rejected the plan, with Egypt proposing a $53 billion reconstruction effort without displacement. Key points under discussion include:
- Clearing 50 million tonnes of rubble, estimated to take 21 years.
- Establishing governance, with Egypt favoring a Palestinian Authority-led committee.
- Advancing ceasefire talks, with Hamas open to elections but insisting on a role.
Netanyahu, who met Trump in February, has called the ceasefire “temporary,” aligning with his far-right allies’ push for Israeli control. Critics, including the UN and Democratic lawmakers, warn Trump’s earlier plan risks violating international law. As diplomats convene, the White House aims to balance regional stability with domestic pressures, with Trump meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah II next week to discuss further steps.
Source: Reuters
