US Special Envoy Jared Kushner announced significant progress post a nearly four-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where they discussed key issues surrounding Gaza’s reconstruction, demilitarisation, and Israel’s security concerns. In a later interview, Kushner addressed how various topics were thoroughly examined, and several misunderstandings regarding the proposed plans were clarified.

Kushner noted that the dialogue allowed them to effectively tackle the valid concerns raised by Netanyahu. “Today we had a very good meeting. We were there for almost four hours with him and his team going through all the different details,” Kushner stated, indicating that the discussions were comprehensive and productive.

He elaborated on the importance of addressing both concerns and misconceptions, emphasising the need for clear communication in the ongoing discussions regarding Gaza. The objective was to foster a constructive environment for future negotiations.

US Commitment to Gaza’s Reconstruction Linked to Demilitarisation

Kushner underscored the US commitment to rebuilding Gaza but reiterated that the process would not commence until demilitarisation is achieved. “We’re very committed to the fact that we have a plan to rebuild Gaza, but we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarisation occurs,” he affirmed. This statement reflects the US’s strategic approach to ensure that any investments in Gaza do not empower militant groups.

He further articulated that there is reluctance to invest resources in a region that could potentially revert to violence or be taken over by hostile entities. “Nobody wants to put more money into a place that’s gone on for so long, until if it’s just going to be taken over by terrorists or blown up again,” Kushner remarked.

Kushner also clarified that the US plan would not impede Israel’s capacity to defend itself against imminent threats. Discussions included defining what constitutes an imminent threat to ensure that Israel maintains its security measures in the face of potential risks.

Projected Timeline for Progress in Gaza

According to Kushner, initial progress in Gaza could be realised within 30 days, focusing on the removal of weapons and addressing the tunnel networks over the subsequent 60 to 90 days. “We could be seeing progress, you know, as much as–in as little as 30 days, hopefully, starting to take some of the weapons out, and hopefully filling in some of the tunnels as well in the next 60 to 90 days as well,” he stated.

Cooperation from both parties was identified as essential for the success of the proposed plan. Kushner highlighted, “So, progress could come quite soon, but we do need cooperation from both sides, and we’re going to hopefully get through it. But we’ve made a lot of progress to get here.”

The envoy portrayed the initiative as a potential advantageous arrangement for Israel, particularly if Hamas engages in disarming willingly. He suggested that if Hamas were to comply with the disarmament, it would significantly alleviate a major security concern for Israel.

Furthermore, Kushner indicated that failure by Hamas to honour its commitments would demonstrate a lack of sincerity towards peace and could catalyse increased support for Israel from the US and other international actors, thereby enhancing its strategic position.

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