Kushner to visit Israel after Netanyahu rejects Gaza Board of Peace plan

Jared Kushner is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt to promote a US-backed Board of Peace plan for Gaza. This visit follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a 15-point plan that proposed Hamas disarming and Israel withdrawing from Gaza. A Board of Peace official confirmed Kushner will be accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair to discuss concerns and next steps, aiming to accelerate progress towards a demilitarized Hamas. The plan, part of a late 2025 ceasefire agreement, also calls for Hamas to transfer power to a Palestinian government and for reconstruction efforts. The article also notes ongoing ceasefire violations by Israel and a surge in settler violence in the West Bank.

Jared Kushner, along with officials from the Board of Peace including Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair, will visit Israel and Egypt next week. The purpose of the trip is to advance plans for ending the conflict in Gaza, following a recent deal announced by the Trump administration that faced Israeli opposition. The group will meet in Israel before traveling to Cairo, where a Palestinian technocratic group has been meeting to discuss taking control of Gaza under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. This visit aims to demonstrate a commitment to peace and security in a demilitarized Gaza where Hamas would cede control for reconstruction. The trip comes after Israel dismissed the recent deal, with Prime Minister Netanyahu stating Israel will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed, despite Hamas accepting the plan to decommission weapons.

Senator Ted Cruz has raised concerns about a provision in the Board of Peace's Gaza roadmap that could allocate up to $400 million to address unpaid obligations accumulated during Hamas' rule. Critics, including Cruz, fear this could indirectly benefit Hamas by relieving its financial burdens or allowing it to siphon funds. Board officials counter that the mechanism is designed to allow a successor government to maintain essential services by vetting claims individually and rejecting any that could benefit Hamas. They emphasize that there is no commitment to fund the full $400 million and that any payments would be rigorously analyzed to ensure Hamas does not profit. The Board also intends to attempt recovery of assets believed to have been stolen by Hamas.