DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hopes for progress toward a lasting Gaza ceasefire are facing another major setback after deadly Israeli strikes hit the Palestinian territory just days after U.S. envoy Jared Kushner concluded a high-stakes diplomatic push.
The latest violence came as Washington attempted to revive a stalled U.S.-backed roadmap aimed at ending the conflict, adding fresh uncertainty to negotiations that had already been strained by major disagreements between Israel and Hamas.
Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a U.S. negotiator, held talks with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The meetings were part of an effort to break the deadlock surrounding a 15-point U.S. proposal for Gaza.
But the discussions ended without a breakthrough.
Israeli strikes raise fresh concerns
According to AP reporting, Israeli airstrikes on Aug. 18 and 19 killed at least 17 Palestinians in several incidents, including an attack on a police station in Gaza City and a strike on a seaside cafe. Israel said its military operations were directed at Hamas commanders and militants.
Reuters separately reported that at least 16 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes since Tuesday, prompting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey — key mediators in the negotiations — to condemn the attacks and warn that continued military action could undermine efforts to end the conflict.
The developments are particularly significant because they came shortly after Kushner’s regional diplomacy, during which Washington was seeking to move the parties toward implementation of the proposed peace framework.
What is holding up the deal?
At the center of the dispute is the sequencing of two key steps: Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s military withdrawal from Gaza.
The U.S.-backed roadmap envisions Hamas giving up its weapons in phases while Israel gradually withdraws its forces, followed by efforts to rebuild Gaza and establish a civilian administration.
Israel, however, has insisted that Hamas must be fully disarmed before an Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction can move forward.
Hamas has taken the opposite position, arguing that Israel should first withdraw and commit to the ceasefire before the group proceeds with disarmament.
That fundamental disagreement has kept the negotiations from producing a comprehensive agreement despite renewed U.S. diplomatic efforts.
Kushner talks produced limited progress
The meetings were not entirely without movement.
Reuters reported that the discussions resulted in plans to establish working groups dealing with issues including Hamas disarmament and public health. However, the major disagreement over the order in which disarmament and Israeli withdrawal should occur remained unresolved.
AP also reported that Kushner’s meeting with Netanyahu was described as lengthy and constructive, but Israel did not make a firm commitment to the U.S. proposal.
That leaves the diplomatic process in a delicate position: negotiations are continuing, but violence on the ground is making a political breakthrough increasingly difficult.
Regional mediators sound the alarm
Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have become increasingly vocal as the latest strikes threaten to derail the diplomatic process.
The three countries said the attacks were undermining efforts to end the conflict at a critical moment and urged Israel to respect the ceasefire arrangement.
Their intervention highlights the growing concern that renewed fighting could erase what little momentum remains in the negotiations.
A ceasefire — but not an end to the violence
The current situation is also a reminder that the existing ceasefire has not brought an end to violence in Gaza.
Reuters reported that more than 1,200 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was reached in October, according to Gaza health officials and the Israeli military.
AP later reported that the toll since the October ceasefire had risen above 1,273 Palestinians, underscoring how fragile the arrangement remains.
The broader war has caused an even greater humanitarian toll, with AP reporting that more than 73,400 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023.
What happens next?
The immediate question is whether Washington can keep negotiations alive despite the latest violence.
Kushner’s meetings with both Hamas representatives and Netanyahu were intended to narrow the gap between the two sides. Instead, the latest strikes have highlighted just how difficult it will be to translate diplomatic discussions into a durable cessation of hostilities.
For now, the proposed roadmap remains alive, but the central disputes over Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal and the sequencing of the agreement remain unresolved.
And with strikes continuing while negotiators attempt to restart the peace process, the next phase of the Gaza negotiations could prove decisive.
The question now is whether diplomacy can move faster than the violence.
Leave a Reply