The US expects the Gaza war to be settled by the end of this year, special envoy Steve Witkoff has said, ahead of a meeting on the conflict to be led by President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.
The envoy's timeline comes just a day after Mr Trump said he anticipated a conclusion to the war "within the next two to three weeks".
Mr Trump previously promised a swift end to the fighting during the 2024 US election campaign, but almost seven months into his presidency that goal remains elusive.
His term began with a ceasefire that lasted two months until mid-March. In recent weeks, images of starving Palestinians, including children, have shocked the world and fuelled criticism of Israel over the worsening conditions in Gaza.
Asked on Fox News whether Israel should be doing anything differently to end the war and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Mr Witkoff said: "We think that we're going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year."
He said Israel was open to further discussions with Hamas and the Palestinian group had signalled it was open to a settlement.
Questioned on whether there is a postwar plan for Gaza, Mr Witkoff said: "Yes, we've got a large meeting in the White House tomorrow, chaired by the President, and it's a very comprehensive plan we're putting together on the next day."
He did not provide details or reveal who would take part in the meeting.
The US State Department separately said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Washington on Wednesday.
US ally Israel's devastating assault on Gaza since October 2023 has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced the entire population and prompted accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
Mr Trump surprised the world earlier this year when he suggested the US should take control of Gaza, clear out its two million inhabitants and build seaside real estate.
He said the US would remove rubble and unexploded bombs and turn Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mr Trump's proposal, but it was heavily criticised by many Arab and European states.
Mr Witkoff did not elaborate on the plan during the Fox News interview on Tuesday, but said he believed people would "see how robust it is and how well meaning it is".
On Monday, Mr Trump told reporters at the White House that he wanted to see the conflict "settled soon". Mr Witkoff's latest remarks indicate a scaling back of US ambitions.
“I think within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have pretty good, conclusive ending,” Mr Trump said. “It’s got to get over with because, between the hunger and all of the other problems – worse than hunger, death, pure death – people being killed."
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203S%20Money%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20London%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Zhiznevsky%2C%20Eugene%20Dugaev%20and%20Andrei%20Dikouchine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%245.6%20million%20raised%20in%20total%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
