US President Trump will chair a meeting to discuss a "comprehensive plan" for Gaza's future later today.
Washington's middle east envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that a "large meeting" had been scheduled for this afternoon focusing on the so-called "day after" arrangements in the Strip.
"Many people are going to see how robust it is and how well-meaning it is, and it reflects President Trump’s humanitarian motives," he told Fox News, without sharing further details.
He did not clarify whether the meeting would feature any representatives from Israel or the region, or whether it would simply be to set the administration's policy on the matter.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is currently in Washington for an official visit, but his participation has not been confirmed.
Trump has previously suggested that the US should "take over" Gaza, relocate its population and redevelop it into the "Riviera of the Middle East."
However, details of how such a plan would work have not been forthcoming, and the upcoming meeting may be an opportunity to either crystallise his vision or change course.
Witkoff did, though, give one firm assurance about the plan, saying: "Hamas understands that they can have nothing to do with the government going forward."
He also claimed that the group is "now signalling that they’re open to a settlement", adding: "We think we’re going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year."
The group announced last week that it had agreed to a proposed deal, which is understood to be based on a framework developed by Witkoff.
This would entail a 60-day truce and partial release of the hostages across two phases in return for IDF withdrawal and a commitment from Jerusalem not to return to war.
Following the announcement, Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli diplomats would return to negotiations, but indicated that Jerusalem would not accept any deal unless it included the immediate release of all hostages and the surrender and disarmament of Hamas.
In a video message recorded for the IDF's Southern Command, he said: "We are at the stage of decisive victory. I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the Defence Minister for taking control of [Gaza city] and for defeating Hamas.
"At the same time, I instructed [officials] to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.
"These two things — the defeat of Hamas and the release of all our hostages — go hand in hand."
And Witkoff told Fox that, despite developing the basis for the deal, the US now stands behind Israel’s position of rejecting a partial deal.
He said: “That’s [Israel’s] official position, and that’s President Trump’s official position. I think that he has said to himself, ‘You don’t need to keep those hostages’.”
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