Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to discuss a proposal for Gaza. The conversation centered on testing whether Hamas intends to disarm. Kushner advocated for incremental steps to determine the sincerity of Hamas regarding disarmament. This proposal marks a point of friction as the Israeli government remains skeptical of the group after years of conflict.
The meeting followed Kushner’s discussions in Egypt with Hamas leadership and regional mediators. Netanyahu raised concerns about the timing and nature of these talks, pointing to domestic Israeli pressure. With an election approaching in October, the Israeli leader faces significant political headwinds. Netanyahu presented polls showing that most Israelis prioritize the demilitarization of Gaza before any reconstruction begins.
A key part of the proposed plan involves a specific sequence of events. Hamas would surrender weapons to a Palestinian technocratic government. Those weapons would then transfer to an International Stabilization Force for destruction. Kushner noted that this process relies on verification rather than blind trust. The U.S. delegation stressed that Israel maintains the right to address imminent threats while the process moves forward.
To manage these tensions, both sides agreed to establish a deconfliction mechanism. This system allows Israel to report emerging threats to regional mediators who will then address them with Hamas. Two working groups are now in place to handle the details of demilitarization and humanitarian relief. While Netanyahu remains cautious, his office confirmed that these groups will work toward the goal of demilitarization prior to the start of any reconstruction efforts. The next phase depends on whether the observed actions on the ground match the stated commitments.