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Israel has extended an unexpected proposal to Syria, offering Damascus the opportunity to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The development, revealed by a source familiar with the talks, highlights a tentative shift in relations between the longtime adversaries.
The initiative was reportedly raised during meetings involving Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, senior Israeli officials, and high-ranking members of the al-Shaara regime. These discussions have unfolded under the guidance of U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who has been working to foster dialogue between the two states.
According to the source, Israel’s proposal envisions Syria supplying humanitarian aid while Israel would facilitate its entry into Gaza. This could be achieved either through air delivery or via trucks crossing into the enclave. The plan mirrors arrangements Israel has previously made with other countries lacking formal diplomatic ties, including Indonesia.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with Palestinians resorting to animal-drawn carts to collect supplies from international aid foundations. For Israel, enlisting Syria in relief efforts would represent both a humanitarian gesture and a cautious step toward easing decades of hostility.
Whether Syria will accept the offer remains uncertain. However, indications from Damascus suggest a willingness to explore cooperation. Congressman Joe Wilson (R–South Carolina), who recently visited Syria and met with President al-Shaara, described his encounter as unexpectedly forward-looking.
“At one point, the Syrian president even raised the issue of the Abraham Accords,” Wilson told The Jerusalem Post. “Of course, it’s early, but who would have imagined that a Syrian leader would bring up such a possibility? If Assad were still alive, this would never have happened.”
Such remarks highlight the shifting tone in Syria’s diplomacy, with President al-Shaara signaling a cautious openness to dialogue with Israel under U.S. mediation. Analysts believe the potential for aid cooperation could pave the way for broader discussions on regional security.
The U.S. administration has expressed a strong interest in advancing a security arrangement between Israel and Syria. Officials in Washington are eager to see progress by the time of the UN General Assembly in two weeks, where both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President al-Shaara are scheduled to attend.
While deep divisions remain, particularly over Syria’s longstanding alliances with Iran and Hezbollah, the aid proposal reflects a pragmatic attempt to find common ground. If realized, it would mark one of the most significant steps toward engagement between the two states in decades.
For now, the humanitarian aid initiative stands as a symbolic but meaningful overture. It underscores how necessity in Gaza and shifting geopolitical calculations in the Middle East may be driving unexpected diplomatic opportunities. Whether this fragile opening develops into durable cooperation remains to be seen.