Israel Nears Completion of Rafah Clearance as U.S. Pushes Phase Two Gaza Plan

Defense officials say Israel is weeks away from completing preparations for what is being termed “New Gaza,” following substantial progress in clearing rubble and unexploded munitions in Rafah. The work is being closely watched in Washington, where officials view the physical readiness of the area as a prerequisite for advancing phase two of the postwar framework.

Israeli officials estimate that roughly 70 percent of the work to remove debris and unexploded munitions in the Rafah area has already been completed. The effort is being carried out under a project known as “Rafah HaYeruka” (Green Rafah), with Israel assuming full responsibility for the engineering and clearance work at the request of the United States. Defense officials say the remaining work is expected to be finished within a matter of weeks.

The completion of rubble clearance in Rafah is viewed by U.S. planners as a central prerequisite for advancing phase two of the postwar framework. The area, a large section of southern Gaza, has been designated as a transitional residential zone where Gaza residents would be relocated as part of broader efforts to stabilize the Strip and establish new rebuilding and governance mechanisms.

Despite the progress on the ground, Israeli leaders have expressed reservations about advancing to phase two before key conditions are met. Israel has pushed back on moving forward while the remains of slain IDF soldier Ran Gvili are still being held in Gaza and before Hamas terrorists agree to surrender their weapons. Israeli officials have framed both issues as fundamental moral and security concerns that cannot be sidelined.

Washington, however, has made clear that it does not intend to condition the start of phase two on either issue. U.S. officials have told Israeli counterparts that while the administration remains committed to securing the return of Gvili’s remains and to disarming Hamas, it wants to advance the next phase without delay. President Donald Trump conveyed this message directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting last week, urging swift movement while acknowledging Israel’s concerns.

As part of the diplomatic push, the United States has been coordinating with regional mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey on a proposed disarmament framework for Hamas. The plan would begin with Hamas giving up heavy weaponry, followed by a buy-back program for lighter arms. U.S. and Arab officials say the goal is to begin implementing the framework in the coming weeks, though it remains unclear whether Israel views it as sufficient.

Hamas officials, for their part, have publicly insisted that they will only give up their weapons as part of a negotiated process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Alongside the security track, Washington is preparing to unveil the structure of the Board of Peace, an international body under U.S. leadership intended to oversee postwar Gaza governance and fundraising. The plan also includes an intermediate executive committee and a Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with managing day-to-day affairs in Gaza, with candidates vetted by Israel’s security services.