White House 'scrambling' as Trump’s fragile peace deal threatens to collapse
White House officials scrambled Monday to rescue President Donald Trump's peace plan for Israel and Gaza amid fears the Israeli prime minister could blow up the deal.
Trump's plan involves Gaza governance by a temporary committee led by the U.S. president with involvement from figures including Tony Blair. It also calls for Hamas to disarm and release all hostages.
Hamas has agreed to release hostages and relinquish power, but has put its foot down on other issues involving Gaza and Palestinian rights.
On Monday night, The New York Times reported that the White House "scrambled to hold together the Gaza peace deal," becoming "increasingly concerned that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, could dismantle the U.S.-brokered agreement."
Vice President JD Vance was flying to Israel to join forces with Trump’s Middle East peace envoy and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who helped negotiate the deal.
"Several Trump officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said there is concern within the administration that Mr. Netanyahu may vacate the deal. The strategy now, the officials say, is for Mr. Vance, Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner to try to keep Mr. Netanyahu from resuming an all-out assault against Hamas," the report said.
Notably, Witkoff and Kushner both acknowledged the situation was “very delicate” and that Trump's deal could collapse, a senior administration official told the Times.
Israel launched at least 20 airstrikes and blocked all aid delivery to Gaza on Sunday as Hamas rejected US accusations that it was preparing to violate the ceasefire.