Trump's envoy Jared Kushner to visit Israel to bridge gaps on Gaza plan

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and envoy of US President Donald Trump, is set to visit Israel next week in an effort to bridge disagreements on a Gaza plan that has been rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials. The visit will include Kushner and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza on Trump's Board of Peace, who will travel to both Israel and Egypt, a key mediator in the peace process.

The trip follows Netanyahu's public rejection of a 15-point plan announced by Mladenov, which included Hamas agreeing to hand over weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee in Gaza. The Board of Peace official expressed hope for "constructive conversations" during Kushner and Mladenov's visit, aiming to advance the overall peace plan initiated by Trump with a ceasefire declaration in October 2025.

The United States and Israel agree on the ultimate goal of a demilitarized Hamas, the official noted. The latest part of the Gaza plan, agreed upon by Hamas in late July, would involve a phased Israeli withdrawal from a significant portion of the Gaza Strip. However, Mladenov later suggested that full Israeli troop withdrawal would only occur after Hamas completes disarming, a demand Netanyahu has vehemently opposed.

He has expressed skepticism about Hamas's commitment to disarmament, calling for the weapons to be destroyed in a verifiable manner.