On August 27, 2025, a high-stakes meeting at the White House brought together U.S. President Donald Trump, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former top Middle East adviser, to confront the mounting humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza. As the war in Gaza nears its 700th day, the gathering aimed to hash out a comprehensive post-war plan, address the spiraling famine, and tackle the thorny issue of hostages still held by Hamas.
The urgency was palpable. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which the United Nations deems reliable, the death toll in Gaza has soared to 62,895 since October 7, 2023. The majority of the casualties are women and children. In just the past day, 76 Palestinians lost their lives, including 18 people trying to obtain humanitarian aid and ten—two of them children—who died from malnutrition. The latest figures also reveal that 313 people, including 119 children, have died from hunger since the war began, underscoring the severity of the famine.
The United Nations Security Council, with the exception of the United States, has labeled the famine a "man-made crisis" and called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire. In a joint statement, the 14 council members demanded the release of all hostages, a surge of aid throughout Gaza, and for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid delivery. "Famine in Gaza must be stopped immediately," they declared. "Time is of the essence. The humanitarian emergency must be addressed without delay and Israel must reverse course."
Despite these calls, the United States, represented by acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea, expressed skepticism about the credibility of a recent food security report. "We all recognize that hunger is a real issue in Gaza and that there are significant humanitarian needs which must be met. Addressing those needs is a priority for the United States," Shea told the Security Council, as reported by Reuters.
The White House meeting itself was described by officials as a routine policy session, yet the stakes could hardly be higher. According to Axios, Blair and Kushner presented ideas on how Gaza could be governed without Hamas in power. The agenda also included strategies to increase aid flows into Gaza, which is teetering on the edge of famine. A U.S. official told Axios, "It's expanding the food plan, the quantity, the distribution method, the number of people that could be served." President Trump’s instructions were clear: "Get this fixed."
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, previewed the meeting on Fox News, stating, "It is a very comprehensive plan we are putting together on the next day (in Gaza) and many people are going to see how robust it is and how well meaning it is and it reflects President Trump's humanitarian motives here." Witkoff added that the White House believes the war could end by the end of 2025.
The president’s own stance, as relayed by aides, is one of impatience and distress. "I can't watch it anymore. It's a terrible thing," Trump reportedly told his team, according to U.S. officials cited by Axios. While the Gaza crisis has not always been Trump’s top foreign policy priority, he has made it clear to his advisers that the conflict must be resolved.
Blair and Kushner’s involvement is not new. The two have been collaborating with Witkoff for months, meeting with regional leaders and shaping proposals. In July, Blair met both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, briefing Abbas on the day-after proposals and discussions in Washington. Blair’s think tank has previously drawn controversy for its reported role in planning Trump’s so-called "Gaza Riviera" project—a proposal to remove Gaza’s two million residents, clear the rubble, and transform the territory into a coastal real estate hub. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the idea, but it has drawn sharp criticism from European and Arab leaders.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure at home. Protesters and Israel’s military leadership are urging him to accept a ceasefire and a hostage deal, rather than expanding the military operation. According to Axios, a coordinated post-war plan with the White House could provide Netanyahu with the political cover needed to accept a ceasefire, presenting it as part of a broader effort to remove Hamas from power.
Yet, the military campaign continues. Netanyahu has approved a plan for a new offensive to attack and occupy Gaza City, with operations expected to escalate as more Palestinian civilians flee the area. Trump is not opposed to the operation and has even given Netanyahu his backing. As one U.S. official put it, "At some level, the president thinks that Bibi's going to do what Bibi's going to do. So would you just hurry up and then we can get in there and take care of people?"
The human cost, however, continues to rise. Families of Israeli hostages have announced a major demonstration for September 3, 2025, outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem. The protest aims to demand a deal to secure the release of those still held in Gaza. Vicki Cohen, mother of captive soldier Nimrod Cohen, told reporters, "We cannot reach day 700 without a deal. Starting next Wednesday, we will shake the country for a single purpose – ending the war and bringing all the hostages home." Anat Angrest, whose son Matan is also a hostage, echoed this call: "Stand in front of the prime minister's house to demand an end to the endless war that continues to take more lives."
On the international stage, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza as disproportionate, pointing to "too many innocent victims" and the killing of five journalists in a recent strike. Meloni called for Israel to halt military attacks, allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and end the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, while also urging the international community to pressure Hamas for the release of hostages.
Amid these developments, the Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited Gaza, urging the full participation of all segments of Israeli society in national security efforts. "Israel's security requires the full partnership of all segments of society," Zamir stated. "This is a civic duty and a national obligation."
As the White House grapples with the complexities of a post-war Gaza, the region remains mired in tragedy. The meeting may have been billed as just another policy session, but for the millions affected by the conflict, the decisions made behind closed doors could determine the course of their lives for years to come.