U.S. Hosts Post-War Gaza Talks as Israel Prepares Gaza City Evacuation/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. is hosting talks with Israeli officials in Washington on Gaza’s future while Israel signals a looming Gaza City evacuation ahead of a major offensive. The discussions follow deadly strikes on a southern Gaza hospital and growing global outrage. Humanitarian groups warn the conflict has already displaced millions and worsened famine conditions.
U.S. Hosts Gaza Talks as Israel Prepares Evacuation Quick Looks
- Israeli military declared Gaza City evacuation “inevitable.”
- Deadly strikes on Nasser Hospital raised global condemnation; 22 killed.
- Pope Leo XIV urged Israel to end “collective punishment” in Gaza.
- U.S. Secretary of State Rubio met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
- Trump expected to chair a separate meeting on Gaza’s future.
- Qatar said Israel has not responded to ceasefire proposal Hamas accepted.
- Gaza Health Ministry reports over 62,000 Palestinians killed since war began.
U.S. Hosts Post-War Gaza Talks as Israel Prepares Gaza City Evacuation
Deep Look
The U.S. and Israel entered high-level discussions Wednesday in Washington over the future of Gaza, even as Israel prepared for what it called the “inevitable” evacuation of Gaza City. The talks reflect mounting urgency as humanitarian conditions deteriorate and international pressure intensifies over Israel’s conduct of the war.
Hospital Strike Sparks Global Outrage
The Washington meetings come just days after a double Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed 22 people, including journalists and emergency responders. Israel has pledged to investigate but offered no explanation for why the same site was struck twice. Military officials claimed six of the dead were militants but presented no supporting evidence.
The attack added to global concern over the war’s impact on civilians. Pope Leo XIV condemned Israel’s tactics as “collective punishment” and decried the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Gaza City Braces for Evacuation
“The evacuation of Gaza City is inevitable,” said spokesperson Avichay Adraee in an Arabic-language post on X. He promised that areas south of the city would be prepared with tents, water, and aid distribution points.
The U.N. humanitarian agency has reported that over 80% of Gaza is already designated as military zones or under displacement orders. Aid groups warn the expansion of evacuations could worsen famine and strain already devastated infrastructure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to proceed with the offensive while also pursuing ceasefire discussions. Tens of thousands of reservists are being mobilized for the operation.
Ceasefire Efforts Stall
While Hamas recently accepted a ceasefire plan brokered by Arab mediators, Qatar — which has played a central role in negotiations — said Israel has yet to formally respond. Qatari officials noted the proposal was “almost identical” to a prior draft that the U.S. supported and Israel accepted.
The framework reportedly includes a 60-day truce, partial hostage releases, freedom for Palestinian prisoners, expanded humanitarian aid, and a pathway to long-term ceasefire talks. Still, Netanyahu’s coalition faces internal resistance to any phased deal, with critics arguing that only continued military pressure can secure hostage releases and weaken Hamas.
Families of Israeli hostages, meanwhile, continue to mount protests, urging the government to prioritize negotiations over military escalation.
Washington’s Role
In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to address both the immediate crisis and Gaza’s long-term governance.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that President Donald Trump would chair a separate meeting featuring “a very comprehensive plan” — though it did not appear on the president’s public schedule.
Witkoff also suggested a shift in U.S. negotiating priorities, declaring that hostages should “no longer be part of negotiations” and that discussions should instead focus on Gaza’s future governance and Hamas’ status.
Continued Violence and Civilian Toll
Despite international appeals, Israeli strikes continued Wednesday. Local hospitals reported at least 10 new fatalities, including a woman and child killed when tents were hit in Khan Younis. Other strikes in the area killed six more people, according to Nasser Hospital.
The Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run administration but widely considered credible by international agencies, said the Palestinian death toll has now surpassed 62,895 since the war began. Roughly half of those killed are women and children, according to the ministry. Israel disputes the figures but has not provided its own.
The ministry also reported 10 additional deaths from malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, raising the total famine-related toll to 313, including 119 children.
Origins of the War
The conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel and abducted 251 hostages. Most hostages have since been released in negotiated ceasefires, but Israel believes roughly 50 remain in Gaza, of whom about 20 are thought to be alive.
As Israel prepares to expand its offensive and the U.S. convenes talks on Gaza’s future, the humanitarian crisis shows no signs of easing. Instead, the combination of ongoing strikes, forced displacement, and diplomatic stalemates underscores the war’s devastating and unresolved trajectory.
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