Jared Kushner, a special envoy for peace under former President Trump, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a 15-point plan aimed at rebuilding Gaza and disarming Hamas. The plan, championed by the Trump-chaired Board of Peace, proposes a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in exchange for Hamas disarming and transferring control of the enclave to a third party.
Kushner described his discussions with Hamas leaders as them saying "all the right things" regarding disarmament, while acknowledging the inherent difficulty in trusting a group responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. "But we had a very cordial meeting. And they said all the right things," Kushner told Fox News. He indicated that Hamas would be given an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment through actions.
During his four-hour meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner urged the prime minister to reconsider his opposition to the plan. Netanyahu had reportedly opposed the proposal due to concerns about Hamas potentially regaining power. "I think there were some valid concerns that they raised that we were able to address. And we were able to go through some of the misunderstandings and misinformation that’s been out about it," Kushner said of the peace plan.
A Board of Peace official confirmed that an agreement was reached that there would be no Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) redeployment from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed and the territory is demilitarized. This includes the decommissioning of all weapons and tunnels. Israel retains the right to self-defense if Hamas engages in terror or rearmament. Two joint working groups will be established: one focused on security and demilitarization, and another on basic needs for Gaza's population, such as clean water and sanitation.
Kushner expressed optimism that progress could be made within 30 to 90 days, with the potential removal of weapons and the filling of tunnels. He stated that if Hamas cooperates, it would significantly reduce Israel's security threats. However, if Hamas fails to uphold its commitment, Kushner suggested that Israel would have greater international support to "finish the job in the appropriate way."
Kushner, who was instrumental in brokering the 2020 Abraham Accords, emphasized that the plan does not restrict Israel's right to defend itself against imminent threats. The proposed plan would transfer governance of Gaza to a technocratic civilian government, announced last year, to facilitate reconstruction efforts.