On Wednesday, high-level Israeli and U.S. officials met in Washington to discuss the future of post-war Gaza, even as Israel’s military declared that the evacuation of Gaza City is “inevitable” ahead of a planned new offensive. With no sign of a ceasefire in sight, the diplomatic talks proceeded amid growing international outrage over a deadly Israeli “double-tap” strike on Nasser Hospital earlier this week.
The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar covered a range of issues, including regional security, the war in Gaza, and strategies for the upcoming U.N. General Assembly session. The U.S. State Department reaffirmed America’s “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” but both officials ignored shouted questions from reporters regarding the recent killing of Palestinian journalists in the hospital attack.
In a separate development, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that President Donald Trump intends to chair a meeting to present “a very comprehensive plan” for post-war Gaza. Witkoff also announced a significant shift in U.S. policy, telling Fox News that the remaining hostages held by Hamas should no longer be part of negotiations, which he said should instead focus on Gaza’s future and the status of Hamas.
As these diplomatic maneuvers unfolded, the Israeli military ordered residents of Gaza City to prepare to leave, with a spokesperson stating that vast empty areas were being surveyed to the south to accommodate the displaced. This announcement has amplified warnings from aid groups and international leaders, including Pope Leo XIV, who called on Israel to halt the “collective punishment” and forced displacement of Palestinians in a territory where a famine has already been declared.
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Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations remain stalled. Hamas has reportedly accepted a plan from Arab mediators, but Qatar, a key mediator, said on Tuesday that Israel has yet to officially respond and “does not want to reach an agreement.” The proposed 60-day truce, which includes a limited hostage-for-prisoner exchange, faces strong opposition from within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, even as protests by hostages’ families swell within Israel.
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The human cost of the conflict continues to mount daily. On Wednesday, Gaza health officials reported that 39 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire. They also confirmed that another 10 people had died from malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of such deaths during the war to 313. Civilians described scenes of chaos and danger while trying to access meager aid supplies near the Zikim crossing.
