Kushner Criticizes Israeli Gaza Policy
U.S. Envoy Jared Kushner Calls Israeli Gaza Policy Irrational Amid Upcoming Elections
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Key Points
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Kushner made the remarks in Kyiv alongside fellow U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a press conference focused primarily on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
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Israel’s Knesset election is scheduled for October 27, and Kushner’s comments came as Israeli opposition to the Board of Peace’s proposal to decommission Hamas and other armed groups’ weapons helped stall the U.S.-backed process.
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Kushner offered a notably bleak description of Gaza, saying: “Gaza has not worked for a very, very long time. It was basically built by NGOs and terrorists, and it’s been a dystopian place for a long time.”
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Kushner reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to impede the peace roadmap, telling him to “not create obstacles” to its implementation.
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A KAN public broadcaster survey cited in one report projected Netanyahu’s Likud party to win 20 of the Knesset’s 120 seats if the election were held at the time of the poll, underscoring the domestic political pressure surrounding the Gaza policy debate.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Israel's upcoming Knesset election is making its government "a little irrational" in handling Gaza, according to MEAWW. Kushner, speaking alongside fellow envoy Steve Witkoff in Kyiv, said Washington and Israel agree on Gaza's end state but that domestic politics are slowing progress. He warned that demilitarizing Gaza will be "extremely difficult" given the extent of weapons and military infrastructure now becoming clear.
The Trump administration is pushing a Gaza roadmap that includes disarming Hamas, withdrawing Israeli forces, expanding aid, establishing new governance, and rebuilding the territory, Yahoo News reported. However, Israeli opposition to the disarmament plan has stalled the U.S.-backed process even after U.S. officials worked with Hamas for over four months.
Kushner's Blunt Assessment of Gaza's Governance
Kushner offered a notably harsh view of Gaza's infrastructure and leadership. He said: "Gaza has not worked for a very, very long time. It was basically built by NGOs and terrorists, and it's been a dystopian place for a long time," according to MEAWW. His comments underscored the scale of reconstruction needed before any postwar settlement can succeed in the territory.
Domestic Elections Clouding Israeli Decision-Making
Israel's Knesset election scheduled for October 27 is creating political pressure that complicates Gaza negotiations. Yahoo News reported that Kushner attributed slow progress to upcoming elections, suggesting domestic politics override strategic planning. A KAN public broadcaster survey projected Netanyahu's Likud party would win only 20 of 120 Knesset seats if elections were held immediately, showing weak political standing that may push the government toward hardline positions.
Kushner reportedly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "not create obstacles" to implementing the peace roadmap, MEAWW reported. The message suggests growing U.S. frustration with Israeli resistance to key provisions, particularly the disarmament of Hamas and allied armed groups.
Two-State Solution Facing Long Odds
A top official within the U.S.-backed Board of Peace said a two-state solution is becoming "impossible" due to ongoing Gaza violence and West Bank escalation. Middle East Eye reported that Nickolay Mladenov, a senior Board of Peace figure, warned the conflict's trajectory threatens any negotiated settlement. The statement reflects deepening pessimism among international mediators about prospects for traditional peace frameworks.
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