As yet another American official, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected in Israel later today, following US Vice President JD Vance in recognition of Tel Aviv’s adherence to the ceasefire, details of the Trump territorial plan on the Palestinian enclave have been made public by the White House.
Or rather joint US and Israeli designs, as the Wall Street Journal reported, adding that the plan would divide Gaza into separate zones under Israeli and Hamas control, with reconstruction taking place only in the Israeli-controlled area.
JD Vance and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, presented this concept in more general terms at a press conference on Tuesday in Israel, where they travelled to pressure both sides to uphold the current ceasefire. Under this agreement, Israel has withdrawn its forces behind a ‘yellow line’, controlling 53% of the enclave.
Vance stated that "there are two areas in Gaza - one relatively safe and one extremely dangerous" and that the goal is "to geographically expand the safe area." Until then, as Kushner added, no funds will be allocated for reconstruction in areas that remain under Hamas control.
"There are now thoughts of starting reconstruction in the areas controlled by the Israeli military, in order to build a 'new Gaza' - to give the Palestinians living there a place to go, to work, to live," Kushner stated.
Arab mediators appeared uneasy about the plan, which, they said, the US and Israel raised during peace talks.
Arab governments firmly oppose the idea of dividing Gaza, arguing that it could lead to the creation of a permanently Israeli-controlled zone within the enclave. They are also unlikely to agree to send troops to police the area under these terms.
A senior US government official stated that this is a preliminary idea and that there will be updates in the coming days.
The ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, drew the yellow line on the map, which delineates the Israeli military's area of control - a "large zone" that surrounds the Palestinian areas.
This Israeli zone is expected to gradually decrease as specific milestones are achieved.
Essentially, the idea of a "divided Gaza" is linked to the unresolved problem of disarming Hamas and creating an alternative government that could manage the enclave and create a secure environment for the billions of dollars in investment required for reconstruction, the Wall Street Journal report states.
Trump's peace plan envisages the creation of a council of technocrats to administer Gaza and an international security force, but the details yet to be determined.
Many Arab governments believe the area should be placed under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority, which administers a large part of the West Bank under Israeli occupation, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly opposes this possibility.
White House officials stated that Kushner is the key architect of the "separated reconstruction" plan, which he designed together with special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Kushner has briefed Trump and Vance, securing their support.
However, some officials acknowledge that the plan still has significant unanswered issues, such as how basic services will be secured for Palestinians who would be living in the area under Israeli occupation - if they even agree to relocate there.
The administration had considered the possibility of starting reconstruction in areas not controlled by Hamas even before the ceasefire was achieved, in the hope that this would improve the living conditions of Palestinians.
There is also concern about how to prevent Hamas members from entering the zone under Israeli control. One proposal being considered by some American officials is a vetting program that would be conducted by Israeli authorities.
A number of mediators claimed that the US appears to be trying to buy time as they search for solutions to the complex issues of post-war governance.
Washington’s main priority remains maintaining the ceasefire, which has been tested by a series of incidents and disputes regarding Hamas's refusal to return the bodies of hostages remaining in Gaza.
The administration sent Vance, Kushner, and Witkoff to Israel to maintain momentum, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive.
Hama meanwhile, according to reports, has not committed to disarming. On the contrary, it has cracked down on rivals to reassert its control over Gaza's population, the majority of which is outside the Israeli control zone. According to the Israeli military, it has also fired on Israeli soldiers on several occasions.