Jared Kushner to Visit Israel and Egypt to Advance Gaza Peace Plan

Jared Kushner, the son in law and peace envoy of President Donald Trump, is planning to travel to Israel and Egypt next week to discuss the implementation of a peace plan for Gaza. Kushner will be accompanied by Board of Peace officials, including high representative Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The delegation intends to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in Cairo. The primary goal of the visit is to find a pathway for the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of a new Palestinian government to assume control of the enclave. According to reports, the group will also meet with a Palestinian technocratic group in Cairo that is slated to govern Gaza under the proposed deal. The plan involves a phased approach where Israeli forces would withdraw as disarmament proceeds, supported by an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force. While Hamas has reportedly accepted the disarmament plan, Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly rejected the proposal. Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not withdraw its forces until Hamas has completely disarmed. The Board of Peace has sought to reassure the Israeli Prime Minister that withdrawal would not occur until disarmament is complete. The diplomatic push comes amid ongoing tensions, as some Israeli surveillance troops have reported seeing increased terrorist activity along the Gaza border. The region remains volatile, with reports of continued Israeli airstrikes and casualties in Gaza following a brief halt in operations.