In a high-stakes White House meeting on August 27, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted a strategic session on Gaza, featuring former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. They joined Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in presenting a comprehensive “day-after” plan that aims to tackle humanitarian needs, hostage negotiations, and the framework for postwar governance—asserting that Hamas should play no role in Gaza’s future.
Witkoff described the plan as “robust and well-meaning,” optimistic about concluding the conflict by year-end and highlighting ongoing efforts toward ceasefire talks and hostage releases, with Israel committing $600 million in aid to Gaza.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged separately with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar at the State Department, focusing on regional security and reinforcing U.S.–Israel diplomatic coordination.
Regional Reactions & Gulf Implications
- Revived Influence of Blair & Kushner
Blair, who previously worked on Middle East peace efforts, and Kushner—architect of the Abraham Accords—have resurfaced at the pinnacle of Trump’s Gaza strategy, despite not holding formal positions. Their return signals an intent to apply their past regional leverage to a dire humanitarian and security crisis.
2. Gulf States Push Back on Displacement Element
Trump’s earlier February 2025 proposal to take over Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere—dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East” plan—was met with strong opposition. Gulf and Arab states condemned the displacement idea, and the Arab League backed an Egyptian-led reconstruction proposal that keeps Palestinians in place. That plan, unveiled in March, features a $53 billion reconstruction fund and envisions disarmament of Hamas alongside governance reforms.
3. Fragmented Arab Response
Many Gulf leaders united in opposition to Trump’s displacement plan, yet some, like the UAE diplomat Yousef Al Otaiba, signaled a cautious openness to dialogue, indicating potential diplomatic divergence within Gulf capitals.
4. Humanitarian Urgency Amid Rising Famine
Gaza is facing catastrophic famine, estimated starvation deaths now running into the hundreds. Gulf countries, long financial backers of Palestinian humanitarian efforts, are watching closely, balancing pressure on Trump’s administration to adopt a rights-respecting reconstruction agenda without forced displacement.
What This Means for the Gulf
For Gulf states—keen on stability, humanitarian response, and regional credibility—this White House meeting has mixed implications:
- Policy Pivot or PR Play? The reinvolvement of Blair and Kushner suggests a renewed push for a U.S.-led post-conflict revamp, but Gulf leaders remain wary of proposals that sideline local agency or displace Palestinians.
- Diplomatic Leverage Reasserted: Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE, could reclaim influence by offering alternative aid packages and governance models that prioritize Palestinian leadership and demographic continuity.
- Monitoring Outcomes Closely: With Trump projecting a year-end resolution, Gulf capitals will track whether the administration’s plan respects sovereignty, fosters reconstruction, and enhances long-term peace—or repackages controversial displacement ideas.
