Top US, Israeli Brass Meet to Plot Gaza's Future: Will Hamas Be Disarmed?

A highly significant meeting will take place this afternoon at 1:30 PM between top Israeli officials and senior American envoys to discuss the critical next steps for the Gaza Strip, known in strategic circles as "the day after" the current conflict and agreements.

The discussion will focus squarely on the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarming of Hamas, which Israeli sources define as the core issue governing the continuation of talks and the cessation of hostilities.

Unusual High-Level American Participation

The meeting will be marked by the unusual and high-level participation of key US figures, signaling the strategic importance the United States places on post-conflict planning. The American delegation will include Witkoff Kushner and the Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper.

The presence of the CENTCOM commander underscores the potential military and security dimensions being considered for the future administration and stabilization of the territory.

The Israeli side will be represented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Minister Ron Dermer, and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.

Stakes and the Return to Fighting

Israel described the discussion as "very significant" due to both the high-caliber participants and the subject matter.

The meeting will focus on establishing shared understandings between Israel and the United States regarding the structure of the "day after," particularly outlining the conditions under which hostilities would resume. This return to fighting is explicitly contingent on Hamas’s failure to fully comply with the terms of the agreed-upon arrangement, specifically concerning the disarmament and demilitarization criteria being laid out.

The completion of these high-level talks is expected to influence the military and diplomatic trajectory of the region as both nations work to establish a long-term security framework for the Gaza Strip.