OAN Staff Blake Wolf
11:03 AM – Thursday, August 28, 2025
United States and Israeli officials met in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future of a post-war Gaza, after President Donald Trump predicted “a conclusive ending” within the next few weeks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday. Both parties revealed that the discussion revolved around the joint operation against Iran, the path to ending the war in Gaza, the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, and the current situations in Lebanon and Syria.
The meeting comes after international backlash following an Israeli military strike on Nassar Hospital in southern Gaza, which Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said targeted an observation camera installed by Hamas terrorists. According to the IDF, six of the 22 individuals killed were identified as members of Hamas. The strike also resulted in the deaths of emergency responders and journalists.
Nevertheless, the State Department reiterated that throughout the meeting, Rubio affirmed the United States’ “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”
“The secretary and Foreign Minister Saar agreed that continued close cooperation between their countries is vital to the security and prosperity of the region,” the State Department said.
The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., stated the two leaders discussed “the different challenges and opportunities in the Middle East,” as well as the continued “nuclear” threat of Iran and the need to “repel anti-Israel initiatives in the international arena.”
Despite President Trump asserting that a conclusive end to the war is on the horizon, a spokesperson for the Israeli military stated the “evacuation of Gaza City is inevitable,” as the IDF prepares to enter a new offensive campaign to militarily occupy all of Gaza, with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas and retrieving the hostages.
Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff revealed on Tuesday that Trump was set to chair a separate meeting to discuss a “very comprehensive plan” for Gaza after the war concludes.
Witkoff also stated that the United States’ official position is aligned with the Israeli position in demanding the release of all of the remaining hostages in any potential peace deal.
“That’s the official position, and that’s President Trump’s official position. I think that he has said to himself that you don’t need to keep those hostages, we’ll have a negotiation if they want, as to what the next day looks like in Gaza after this is all done and what the definition of Hamas is,” Witkoff said in a Fox News interview.
During the interview, conducted by Fox News’ Bret Baier, Witkoff was asked if there were any “red lines” the White House is setting on Israel’s military conduct, specifically pointing out the recent strike on the Nassar Hospital.
“Well, anytime you have civilian deaths it’s a tragedy. The president, he feels it. You know the president has met with almost every single hostage family, I mean he is as compassionate a man as I know,” Witkoff responded.
“Any time you have civilian [deaths], that’s problematic, but it’s a war, and part of what we’re trying to do is shut that war down, it doesn’t need to continue to happen anymore,” he continued.
Witkoff added that the Trump administration believes the war will be “settled one way or another, certainly before the end of the year.”
It is currently unclear how President Trump’s reported comprehensive peace plan aligns with the Israeli government’s new initiative to ramp up the war efforts by expanding the military campaign into Gaza City.
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