Jared Kushner in Israel for talks with Netanyahu

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s advisor and son-in-law, is in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to The New Arab and agencies on November 10th.

The talks will take place as the US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal, which was implemented on October 10th, enters its second month. The meeting is expected to occur on November 10th, although this has not been immediately confirmed by Netanyahu’s office or the White House.

Since the ceasefire came into effect, Israel has violated the terms at least 194 times, including by launching strikes that have killed over 100 people and blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Strip.

Furthermore, only around 10% of medical supplies requested for Gaza had entered the enclave since the ceasefire came into effect.

Trump’s administration denied that an Israeli strike on October 25th breached the ceasefire terms.

On October 21st, Kushner proposed only rebuilding Israeli-occupied areas of Gaza, saying: “There are considerations happening now in the area that the IDF controls, as long as that can be secured, to start the construction as a new Gaza in order to give the Palestinians living in Gaza a place to go, a place to get jobs, a place to live.”

This proposal would exclude Hamas-controlled areas from receiving reconstruction funds, possibly in an attempt to force Hamas to relinquish power in the enclave.

Alongside US Envoy, Steve Witkoff, Kushner has been involved in securing a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Both men are real estate enthusiasts and supporters of Israel, with Kushner being a long-time friend of Netanyahu.

An estimated 70% of Palestinians across the Occupied West Bank and Gaza reject calls for Hamas to disarm, according to a poll published on October 28th; the survey also found that most Palestinians are sceptical of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which critics perceive as a colonial endeavour.

Under Trump’s 20-point plan, the Palestinian Authority would have no role in the governing of Gaza. Many Palestinians view the disarmament of Hamas as a threat to their national security and self-determination, as they believe that accepting the proposal would legitimise Israel’s continued occupation and subjugation of the Palestinian people.

The New Arab and agencies, Maghrebi.org