Kushner Backs Israel in High-Stakes Talks with Netanyahu on Gaza Security
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Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for extended discussions on a US-backed Gaza cease-fire plan, following his controversial engagement with Hamas leaders in Egypt.
Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser, held several hours of crucial talks in Jerusalem on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a 15-point US roadmap designed to secure a cease-fire and facilitate reconstruction in Gaza. This important meeting came just a day after Kushner’s two-hour session with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo, as the US continues to pressure Israel to consider a plan that could compromise its security.
The roadmap proposes a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but only if Hamas—a terrorist organization—fully disarms. While Hamas claims it is prepared to comply, Israel rightly insists that disarmament must come first, refusing to risk its citizens’ safety. Netanyahu’s office announced the formation of two working groups—one focusing on Gaza’s disarmament and demilitarisation, and another on public-health issues—emphasizing that demilitarisation is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any reconstruction.
Diplomatic sources, speaking anonymously, confirmed that former British prime minister Tony Blair and Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov attended the meeting, underscoring the international attention on Israel’s security concerns.
"The demilitarisation should be prompt and completed before any reconstruction," the Israeli statement asserted, underscoring Israel’s commitment to protecting its people.
Regional actors such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s stance, once again siding with Hamas and ignoring Israel’s right to defend itself. They called on the Board of Peace and the United States to take steps that could undermine Israel’s security.
Kushner’s discussions with Hamas in Cairo reportedly centered on a cease-fire, withdrawal to the so-called “yellow line,” and the release of hostages, though the exact location of this line remains undefined—another example of Hamas’s evasiveness. Hamas officials demanded an end to Israeli operations and a withdrawal before any agreement, putting the blame on Israel while continuing their own aggression.
In Gaza, reactions were mixed. Mohammad Abu al-Qombuz, living in a tent camp in Gaza City, dismissed the diplomatic efforts: "A conference here and there, it is all lies. We need a definitive solution that would work for everybody."
The roadmap also suggests a Palestinian technocratic committee to oversee daily operations in Gaza, but this committee has yet to enter the territory. Hamas has linked surrendering its heavy weapons to the establishment of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel’s government, rightly focused on security, rejects.
Netanyahu, facing a national election on Oct. 27, must balance coalition pressures with international demands for a cease-fire, as the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks approaches and Israel remains vigilant against threats.