Trump Presses Israel to Launch Gaza Plan Post-Election

The White House has directed Israel to move forward with the implementation of its Gaza peace plan following the conclusion of the Israeli election. President Donald Trump made this request during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, according to a report by Channel 12 citing two American sources.

The initiative centers on the disarmament of Hamas and the transfer of administrative control in Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic government. Implementation of the plan was effectively suspended during the Israeli election campaign. Many officials cited the political risk Netanyahu’s government faced in permitting reconstruction before Hamas was fully disarmed.

Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu for reelection, stated that progress on the plan is required regardless of the specific government that emerges in Israel. A senior US official told Channel 12 that reconstruction in Gaza remains contingent on measurable progress toward Hamas’s disarmament. Washington requires full Israeli cooperation for this process, although the source did not specify the exact degree of disarmament needed before rebuilding can commence.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with senior envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, participated in the call. A source familiar with the discussions said the Trump administration, the US-backed Board of Peace, and Israel all agree that Trump’s 20-point plan is the optimal path forward. The source described the tone of the conversation as positive and constructive. The officials also discussed the ongoing war with Iran.

In a separate development, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir convened an emergency meeting regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Reports indicate that more than 70,000 tents were flooded during severe weather conditions, affecting tens of thousands of displaced people. Unnamed security officials expressed concern that Hamas is attempting to exploit the crisis to pressure Israel into starting reconstruction before the group disarms. They accused the group of using images of displaced Palestinians to increase international pressure and buy time to rebuild military capabilities. Zamir instructed officials to counter this campaign through public diplomacy while continuing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian supplies mandated for Israel. The IDF declined to comment on the matter.

Israel’s mission to the United Nations asserted on Sunday that the UK’s Labour government is rallying support from approximately 50 countries for a joint statement. The statement would call on Israel to ease restrictions on supplies entering Gaza ahead of the winter. Israel stated this effort expands on a September document titled "Gaza: A Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health," which was endorsed by Australia, Denmark, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. The British government has not confirmed it is leading this initiative.

Danny Danon, Israel’s UN envoy, criticized the effort. "The Labour government seems to have forgotten that Hamas even exists," Danon said. He noted that the international community often points the finger at Israel while ignoring the terrorist organization's responsibility for the situation in Gaza. Danon called on London to demand the disarming of Hamas instead.

Amid the harsh weather, Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defense reported that five people died on Sunday in an incident linked to heavy rains that began the previous day. Three children and two women were among the dead. Spokesman Mahmud Bassal stated that a sandy embankment collapsed onto tents housing displaced people at a shelter center south of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Rescue teams are continuing to search for missing people. The agency warned displaced people against setting up tents or remaining near sand masses and elevated soil mounds during rainfall.

Palestinian authorities said the heavy rain on Saturday flooded tens of thousands of tents, leaving occupants without shelter. Hamas municipal and civil defense officials claimed they were unable to cope with the storm due to fuel shortages and damaged equipment. They stated that Israel destroyed hundreds of vehicles, including bulldozers and water pumps, during the war and has barred construction equipment during the ceasefire. They also said Israel has not allowed prefabricated homes into Gaza since the truce was announced, permitting only limited numbers of tents.

Israel maintains it will not allow reconstruction work to begin until Hamas agrees to disarm and relinquish control of the enclave. COGAT, the Defense Ministry agency that coordinates aid in Gaza, issued a statement on Friday confirming it had stepped up efforts to improve sanitary conditions across the territory. This action was taken in coordination with international organizations ahead of the expected heavy rain.