Kushner: Israel Agrees on Gaza Endgame, But Elections Cause Irrationality

Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor, stated during a visit to Kyiv that the U.S. and Israel are aligned on the desired "end state" in Gaza. However, he noted that "crazy elections" in Israel have made the country "a little irrational" at times, complicating efforts.

Kushner elaborated on the challenges of disarming Gaza, describing the extent of its armament as "beyond your ability to understand" and stating that demilitarization "will not be easy." He claimed that Hamas had agreed to a demilitarization deal, stating, "We have been working with Hamas for over four months... they signed an agreement that they will demilitarize Gaza."

In mid-August, Kushner met with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and Mohammed Dahlan in Egypt as part of efforts to advance the Trump administration's roadmap. Hamas announced its agreement to the second phase of this roadmap, which includes an Israeli withdrawal, increased aid, and the commencement of work by a national committee for Gaza's governance and reconstruction.

Earlier, Dahlan reported receiving a message from Kushner indicating an agreement with Israel to cease attacks on Gaza and urged Palestinian factions to uphold their commitments to avoid jeopardizing the deal. Meanwhile, reports emerged in early September that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to develop a plan for a pilot regional model in Gaza, similar to the model used in southern Lebanon. This plan, discussed with U.S. coordination, would involve defining specific areas in Gaza for international forces to enter, establish governance, and prevent Hamas operatives from returning.