Kushner to visit Israel to bridge gaps on Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy, Jared Kushner, is set to travel to Israel next week in an effort to mend divisions regarding a Gaza plan that was recently rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials. Kushner, along with Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, will visit Israel and Egypt.

This trip follows Netanyahu's public rejection of a 15-point plan proposed by Mladenov, which includes Hamas turning over its weapons to a new governing committee in Gaza.

The officials hope that during their discussions, Kushner and Mladenov will engage in "constructive conversations" aimed at advancing Trump's peace plan, which initially began with the signing of a ceasefire in October 2025. The plan, as announced in late July, envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal from a significant portion of the Gaza Strip. However, Mladenov later modified his stance, suggesting that Israel might not need to withdraw troops until Hamas completely disarms.

Netanyahu has expressed his skepticism about Hamas disarming, advocating for the necessity of verifiable weapon destruction. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that both the United States and Israel concur on the end goal: a demilitarized Hamas. The critical aspect, according to the official, is finding ways to expedite progress, addressing concerns raised and exploring the next steps in the peace process.