From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 17, 2026
PM’s office says he agrees to form ‘working groups’ on Gaza demilitarization, humanitarian needs
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to establish two working groups focused on Gaza’s demilitarization and humanitarian needs during a meeting today with a group of envoys from the White House and the US-backed Board of Peace, his office says.
A Board of Peace official praises the meeting, saying that it means Israel will give “a chance” to the US-backed plan to disarm Hamas and have the IDF withdraw from the Strip.
Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump’s top envoy Jared Kushner and senior Board of Peace officials Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair, according to a brief readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“The Prime Minister and Board of Peace had deep and constructive discussions,” the statement reads.
“It was agreed to establish two working groups, one on disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, which both Israel and the Board of Peace are determined should be prompt and completed before any reconstruction happens in Gaza,” the PMO says.
“A second working group will focus on sanitation, clean water and other public health issues for the people of Gaza and which also impact the people of Israel,” the statement concludes.
The PMO does not elaborate on the composition of the working groups or provide a timeline for their work.
In a separate statement, a Board of Peace official says the meeting was “lengthy, in depth, and very productive.”
“We agreed with the PM on a path forward. The Israelis are going to give this a chance. Now it’s up to Hamas to show if it truly intends to comply,” the official says.
Today’s meeting, which ran from late morning until mid-afternoon, followed Kushner’s talks with Hamas officials in Cairo, as the Board works to advance the disarmament plan.
Hamas has said it accepted the framework, which envisions the group gradually handing over its weapons, as Israel conducts corresponding withdrawals from Gaza.
Netanyahu has rejected the Board of Peace proposal, insisting that the terror group fully disarm before any Israeli withdrawals from the Strip.
The PMO does not say who participated in the meeting alongside Netanyahu.
The Times of Israel Community.