WASHINGTON — The White House is preparing to unveil a framework addressing Gaza’s future once the conflict between Israel and Hamas subsides.
Senior U.S. officials confirmed that President Donald Trump will chair a high-level meeting Wednesday focused on “day after” planning. The discussions are expected to include security arrangements, reconstruction, and long-term governance questions, though few details have been made public.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, described the initiative as “comprehensive,” adding that it would be judged by its ambition and intent. He declined to elaborate further.
Earlier this year, Trump floated a controversial idea to redevelop Gaza into a luxury coastal destination — a plan that drew praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but sharp condemnation across Europe and the Arab world.
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has left Gaza devastated. The attack killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in over 62,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry, figures recognized as credible by the United Nations.
With Gaza’s future uncertain, the Biden administration’s successor faces pressure to propose a roadmap balancing humanitarian recovery, political stability, and security guarantees — a challenge that has eluded American policymakers for decades.
