High-Level Negotiations: Meeting in Jerusalem Seeks to Advance Implementation of the 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan

High-Level Negotiations: Meeting in Jerusalem Seeks to Advance Implementation of the 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with special envoys Jared Kushner and Nikolay Mladenov in Jerusalem, as part of an intense round of diplomatic negotiations aimed at advancing the 20-Point Plan for Gaza, proposed by President Donald Trump.

The diplomatic mission is marked by complex coordination led by Kushner, Mladenov (representing the "Board of Peace"), and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair with the Israeli government, regional mediators (Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar), and Hamas representatives.

Among the main topics and challenges in the ongoing negotiations are:

The Sticking Point (Disarmament): The main current obstacle is the disarmament of Hamas. While international mediators are pushing for a gradual disarmament roadmap tied to the withdrawal of Israeli troops, Israel maintains a rigid stance, demanding concrete and verifiable guarantees of disarmament before any significant progress toward the subsequent phases of the plan.

Transitional Governance (NCAG): The U.S. administration seeks to mediate the transition of governance in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a body composed of technocrats designed to replace Hamas's de facto rule. In this regard, the envoys have emphasized that real actions, rather than mere promises, are required to overcome Israeli distrust.

The Role of the "Board of Peace": Created under Trump's plan, the body is responsible for overseeing Gaza's reconstruction, ceasefire implementation, and political transition, seeking to align the established roadmap with the security requirements presented by the Israeli leadership.