Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A senior White House official confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza. The meeting was attended by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump’s former Middle East envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
According to the official, the meeting covered a wide range of topics related to Gaza, including the escalation of humanitarian aid deliveries, the ongoing hostage crisis, and preliminary ideas for the post-war reconstruction and governance of the territory. The session was described as a “political meeting” of the kind Trump and his team hold regularly.
Blair and Kushner reportedly presented their views on the Gaza crisis, with Trump reaffirming his desire to see an end to the conflict. He also emphasized the urgent need to increase food aid, resolve the hostage situation, and prepare a detailed plan for “the day after” the war.
Kushner, who served as a senior advisor in Trump’s first term, played a central role in shaping U.S. Middle East policy. Blair, who led the UK during the Iraq War in 2003, has remained active in regional diplomacy, particularly in issues related to Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Earlier, the news site Axios reported that both Blair and Kushner would be presenting Trump with a framework for managing Gaza after the war, potentially without Hamas in power. The report also stated that U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had been in close contact with both Blair and Kushner for months to discuss post-war strategies.
Blair reportedly met with Witkoff at the White House in July, the same day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump.
U.S. officials cited by Axios said the meeting also focused on expanding the scope of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. One official noted that this expansion involves not just quantity but also improved delivery mechanisms and broader reach, adding that Trump’s instruction to his team was direct: “Fix this problem.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian group Hamas accused the U.S. administration of blatant bias toward Israel ahead of Wednesday’s meeting at the White House. Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Risheq released a statement expressing the movement’s “astonishment” at comments made by Special Envoy Witkoff, who blamed Hamas for stalling ceasefire negotiations. Hamas denounced the remarks as incompatible with the role of a fair mediator.
