Trump holds White House discussion on Gaza strategy: Pushes aid and reconstruction plans as Israel prepares major offensive

U.S. President Donald Trump held a meeting at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza as Israel prepares for another large-scale operation aimed at taking control of one of Hamas’ last strongholds.

The meeting was first announced by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff during an interview with Fox News journalist Brett Baier on Tuesday. In that interview, Witkoff called it “a large meeting” and said that the White House has “a very comprehensive plan” for post-war Gaza. 

According to U.S. media reports, during the meeting, Trump echoed Witkoff’s assessment that the war could be over by the end of the year or by early 2026. 

While Witkoff had appeared to indicate that the White House meeting on Gaza was a special event, an official told several media outlets that it was “simply a policy meeting,” as the Trump administration keeps abreast of developments in the Gaza Strip. 

The Times of Israel cited an unnamed White House official who stated, “The White House frequently holds policy meetings on a variety of issues, including Israel and Gaza. We have nothing additional to share at this time.” 

Reuters reported that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also took part in the meeting, which addressed the current hostage situation, efforts to increase food aid delivery into Gaza, and post-war plans for the enclave, including governance and reconstruction.

Kushner was a key figure in Trump’s Middle East policy during his first presidential term and played an instrumental role in helping define and implement Trump’s Middle East peace initiatives, including his involvement in the Abraham Accords. 

Blair has been involved in Middle East issues since leaving office, conducted various meetings with regional stakeholders over the past few months in an attempt to develop a post-war Gaza plan. 

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, viewed by many as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-hand man, was also in Washington, D.C. for meetings with White House officials on Wednesday, but did not participate in the Gaza policy meeting. 

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar traveled to Washington to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which took place shortly after the White House session. 

According to an Israeli readout of the meeting, the two discussed a variety of topics, including “the issue of Iran following the unprecedented cooperation between the countries to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat and the ‘snapback’ issue, the war on Hamas in Gaza, and the UN General Assembly discussions next month.” 

Sa’ar and Rubio also discussed the situations in Syria and Lebanon, as well as “cooperation to repel anti-Israeli moves in the international arena.” 

The State Department readout of the meeting reported: “The Secretary discussed key issues in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Additionally, the Secretary discussed the importance of countering Iran’s malign influence.” 

Despite expressing a desire for the war in Gaza to end quickly, Trump is reportedly backing Israel’s planned takeover of Gaza City, along with the corresponding increase in humanitarian aid and evacuation of Palestinian civilians out of the city before the ground campaign commences. 

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said he anticipated a conclusion to the war “within the next two to three weeks.”