United States envoy Jared Kushner has declared that the administration of President Donald Trump will not permit the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip until Hamas fully disarms. Kushner, who serves as the president’s son-in-law, emphasized that the international community is hesitant to invest in the region if the territory remains susceptible to future conflict or control by militant groups.
Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Kushner noted that the discussions failed to produce a breakthrough regarding the existing roadmap for Gaza, which Hamas had previously agreed to follow. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, he stated, “We have a plan to rebuild Gaza, but we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarisation occurs.”
The current diplomatic impasse stems from a proposal that would involve an Israeli withdrawal and an end to hostilities. While Hamas reportedly agreed to lay down its weapons, Israel rejected the terms earlier this month, insisting that no concessions would be made until the territory is completely demilitarized. Kushner appears to align with the Israeli position, stressing that the U.S. will not restrict Israel’s right to defend itself against imminent threats.
The humanitarian situation in the enclave remains dire. Since a ceasefire was implemented last year, near-daily attacks have resulted in at least 1,265 deaths. The broader conflict, which began in October 2023, has claimed the lives of 73,399 Palestinians. Despite these figures, President Trump expressed a desire for an end to the strikes on Monday, noting that Hamas had committed to disarming.
The United States has provided approximately $25 billion in military aid to Israel over the last three years. Washington has also consistently defended the Netanyahu government in international forums, including the imposition of sanctions against officials from the International Criminal Court who were investigating alleged atrocities in the region.
Kushner described the potential for a peaceful resolution as a “win-win” for Israel, suggesting that if Hamas surrenders its weapons and tunnels within the next 60 to 90 days, it would represent a significant security achievement. He warned that if the group fails to honor its commitments, the U.S. would likely provide increased support for Israel to finish the operation.
On Sunday, the U.S. envoy held a rare meeting with Hamas officials, describing the interaction as “very cordial.” However, he maintained that Washington’s stance remains skeptical. “They said all the right things, but obviously, it’s very, very hard to trust a terrorist organisation that committed these terrible atrocities,” Kushner concluded. The report also notes that “Nobody wants to put more money into a place that’s gone on for so long if it’s just going to be taken over by terrorists or blown up again.”. The report also notes that in the interview with Fox News, Kushner – whose family has deep personal ties to Netanyahu – appeared to adopt the Israeli viewpoint in emphasising the full demilitarisation of Hamas before Israeli withdrawal.
Source: Aljazeera
