Israel Palestinians Gaza
Palestinians remove iron from the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during the war with Hamas, repair and recycle it for construction, building tents or selling it, in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.
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The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East has visited the long-deployed USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Meanwhile, U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner has held a rare meeting with the Hamas leader about the Gaza ceasefire before visiting Israel and meeting with its prime minister. The 60-day negotiating period set by the interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran is ending. Iran again alleges that Qatar is holding three of its downed pilots. And a new Israeli strike in Gaza has wounded five people including a child.
Kushner has a rare meeting with Hamas' leader on the Gaza road map. A meeting with Netanyahu is next
U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner has held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief in Egypt in a push to make progress on the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Officials from mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and Turkey also attended Sunday's meeting. The talks aim to salvage a new U.S.-backed road map for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan last week, defying the Trump administration. Sources say Kushner, Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov will meet with Netanyahu on Monday. Regional powers have condemned Israel's rejection and urged immediate action to implement the plan.
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