Kushner blames Israel's looming election for stalled Gaza reconstruction plan
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Israel's upcoming election is slowing progress on Gaza's rebuilding and the broader peace roadmap.
At a Kyiv conference, U.S. special envoy Jared Kushner attributed the lack of progress on Gaza's reconstruction and the wider peace plan to Israel's imminent elections, calling the political climate "irrational." He pointed to the close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition candidates as a key obstacle to U.S. negotiations with Israel and Hamas. Washington is frustrated that Israel has not provided guarantees for a new Gaza police force or allowed essential reconstruction materials, while Israeli airstrikes continue despite the ceasefire.
Kushner's comments constitute a rare public criticism of Netanyahu's Gaza policy from a senior Trump administration official. Diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has warned that ongoing Israeli strikes impede Hamas disarmament and the civilian transition. The stalled plan envisions gradual Hamas disarmament alongside an Israeli withdrawal, but both sides accuse each other of failing to meet commitments.
Why it matters
The delay hinders Gaza's recovery and raises the risk of renewed instability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Israeli airstrikes kill three Palestinians in Gaza amid ongoing ceasefire
- Sep 1 Katz confirmed a senior Hamas security official was arrested.
- Sep 3 The UK announced it will roll out measures targeting the E1 settlement scheme.
- Sep 3 An Israeli air strike targeting a motorcycle in Kfar Reman killed two people, part of a broader surge of attacks in southern Lebanon.
- Sep 3 The UN rights office says Israel's forced removal of more than 33,000 Palestinians from three West Bank refugee camps could amount to crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
- Sep 5 EU foreign ministers convened in Ireland to discuss a ban on products from West Bank settlements.
- Sep 6 Israel ordered residents of Arab Salim to evacuate amid fresh air strikes in southern Lebanon.
- Sep 6 Three people were killed and 23 were injured in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon, according to the health ministry.
- Sep 6 Israeli airstrikes killed four people and damaged Ghandour Hospital in south Lebanon.
- Sep 7 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged U.S. action following the airstrikes.
- Sep 7 New reports detail a fresh Israeli strike on Kfar Rumman that killed at least nine civilians, including children and medics.
- Sep 7 Latest reports put the civilian death toll at up to twelve.
- Sep 7 Ed Miliband indicated the UK will announce the settlement trade ban this week.
- Sep 7 The UN rights office released a report stating the evictions may amount to crimes against humanity.
In this story
Related stories
25 in this thread