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Kushner meets Netanyahu
Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and envoy, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after holding rare talks with Hamas in Egypt, in an effort to advance a stalled Gaza peace deal.
“Kushner described his nearly four-hour meeting with Netanyahu as "good"”
The Guardian reported Netanyahu told Kushner there could be no progress on the stalled Gaza ceasefire deal or an Israeli withdrawal from the coastal strip until Hamas first disarms, and that an Israeli official said there had been no breakthrough in the meeting.
Reuters said Kushner left Jerusalem on Monday without a breakthrough after two days of talks with Israeli and Hamas leaders, with both sides standing firm on key demands.
Reuters reported that Israel has carried out air strikes and seized more territory in Gaza despite an October ceasefire, while Hamas refused to give up its weapons.
In the same Reuters account, Kushner described his nearly four-hour meeting with Netanyahu as "good" and said Hamas representatives told him "all the right things."
Disarmament blocks withdrawal
The Guardian said Netanyahu insisted there could be no Israeli withdrawal or reconstruction without full Hamas disarmament, and that the Israeli prime minister requested that a US general supervise the group’s handover of weapons.
NBC News reported that Netanyahu and Kushner agreed that Gaza Strip “demilitarization” should start with a Hamas weapons handover supervised by an American military general, according to a senior Israeli official.
In the Reuters account, Netanyahu rejected the deal this month, insisting that Israel would not pull back until Hamas is completely disarmed, while Kushner said the United States will not restrict Israel's right to defend itself if there are imminent threats.
NBC News also said Netanyahu “made it clear” that the Israel Defense Forces will not redeploy but will “continue to thwart” threats to its forces and the residents of Israel.
Reuters added that Netanyahu and Kushner agreed that Gaza's reconstruction would not start until Hamas is disarmed, and quoted Kushner saying, "We're very committed to the fact that we have a plan to rebuild Gaza, but we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarization occurs."
What’s at stake next
Reuters said more than 1,200 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since last October, and it tied the stalled diplomacy to continued Israeli air strikes and Hamas refusal to give up its weapons.
“More than 1,200 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza”
At stake, Reuters reported, was a plan for reconstruction of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, with Kushner saying reconstruction would not begin until demilitarization occurs and with the prime minister’s office and the Board of Peace agreeing that disarmament and demilitarization should be prompt and completed before any reconstruction happens.
The Guardian said the timing of the meeting was not auspicious because Netanyahu was struggling in the polls ahead of national elections later this year, and it described Gaza as a highly charged issue where Netanyahu is seen as vulnerable.
NBC News reported that Powerful National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned efforts to advance the ceasefire deal and called for the “targeted” killing of “30 or 40” people in Gaza every night.
In the NBC News account, Ben-Gvir said on a podcast hosted by Rom Braslavski, "I think we need to carry out targeted killings in Gaza — take out 30 or 40 every night."
