Secretive Gaza meetings in Cyprus as plan to isolate Hamas gathers pace

What Happened

Representatives of the US-led Board of Peace, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, are convening secretly in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, to advance a roadmap for Gaza's post-war administration under Article 17 of President Trump's plan. The strategy aims to isolate Hamas by establishing 'Hamas-free' zones offering temporary shelters, medical services, and aid to draw civilians away from the group, with a pilot project set to launch within weeks in the Tal as-Sultan area near Rafah. The plan is facing multiple crises: the Israel Envelope Forum, representing border settlements, has warned it will allow Hamas to regroup; donors have reneged on $17 billion in pledges; and a leaked draft resolution reveals the Board seeks sweeping legal immunity for its members and the seizure of public facilities without compensation, prompting accusations of creating a 'colonial occupation authority'.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Cyprus meetings represent a high-profile US-led attempt to shape Gaza’s post-war future by leveraging humanitarian aid and reconstruction to politically isolate Hamas, a core Israeli demand. However, the plan’s viability is in doubt due to massive funding shortfalls, Israeli domestic opposition that could stall implementation, and legal immunity provisions that risk undermining international law and local ownership, potentially turning the intervention into a prolonged occupation rather than a pathway to stability.

Watch For

In the coming weeks, monitor the announced pilot project in Tal as-Sultan, any resumption of donor pledges to address the $17 billion gap, Israel’s official position on allowing reconstruction before Hamas is disarmed, and legal challenges or diplomatic pushback against the Board of Peace’s leaked draft immunity resolution.