There was a sense of optimism in Jerusalem following the meetings with special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, ahead of Vice President Vance's meetings after his visit Tuesday to the Multinational Force base in Kiryat Gat.
At a press conference Monday night, Vance delivered a statement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had been hoping for: "No force will enter Gaza without Israel's consent, and nothing will be imposed on it." Vance was responding to a question about the possibility of Turkish troops joining the multinational force planned for Gaza. This issue had come up in discussions between Israel and the US over the past week, with the Americans ultimately accepting Israel's position: Turkey may provide humanitarian aid and assist in locating hostages and remains, but under no circumstances will it be allowed to deploy military forces.
Vance reinforced Trump's message with a stern warning to Hamas: disarm voluntarily, or face disarmament by force. On this point, a diplomatic source involved in the negotiations said that despite public declarations by some senior Hamas officials that the terrorist organization would not give up its weapons, its stance at the negotiating table was far more flexible. Still, the source cautioned that the disarmament process would be slow and complicated, and that Israel would have to be patient. The US has updated Israel on the emerging mechanism for dismantling Hamas' offensive arsenal, including rockets and mortars, and the handover of small arms.
Discussions between Israel, the US, and other countries have also focused on accelerating the development of humanitarian zones in southern and northern Gaza. The new operational headquarters in Kiryat Gat, a city is southern Israel, is emblematic of these efforts. In addition to a dominant American presence, the base hosts representatives from several countries all working on planning and implementing the reconstruction phases. The United Arab Emirates appears to be playing a particularly prominent role, alongside Jordan, Egypt, Canada, and various European states including Germany, Britain, and Denmark.
Blueprints for clinics, schools, and water and electricity infrastructure facilities hang on the walls of the meeting rooms. Photos show heavy equipment already at work leveling the ground and preparing the infrastructure. The first complex is expected to be operational within two months.
At the press conference, Kushner stressed that all rebuilding efforts would be limited to areas under Israeli control, and that no rehabilitation would take place in Hamas-run zones. One American delegate described the plan with a phrase that quickly made the rounds in the press room: "UpTown Rafah and Underground Gaza." In a rare note of praise, US officials commended the cooperation between Israel and the United Nations.
