United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner, is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt next week as part of efforts to advance a U.S.-backed Board of Peace initiative aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This visit follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of a 15-point peace proposal previously backed by Trump.
Rejection of Peace Proposals
Netanyahu’s rejection centered on a key element of the 15-point plan that proposed Hamas gradually disarming its military capabilities and transferring these arms to a neutral Palestinian entity, while Israel would withdraw its troops from Gaza. Despite Israel’s refusal, Hamas has signaled its preliminary acceptance of the agreement and expressed commitment to pursue peace in the region.
Kushner will be joined in this diplomatic effort by Nickolay Mladenov, the director general of the Board of Peace, along with Tony Blair, a former British Prime Minister and executive committee member. Officials from the Board of Peace indicated that the purpose of their meetings is to address concerns raised by various stakeholders and to discuss actionable next steps to achieve a sustainable resolution.
“It is vital for all parties to share a common understanding of the desired outcome and expedite progress toward it,” an official noted, underscoring the mutual goal of achieving a demilitarized Hamas without further escalation.
Ceasefire Violations Persist
The endorsement from Hamas regarding initial disarmament discussions represents a significant step forward; however, the intricacies of implementation remain vague. A ceasefire plan established last year mandated that both Hamas and Israel halt hostilities to facilitate the decommissioning of weapons by Palestinian factions and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, numerous violations have been reported. Since its enactment, local authorities have documented over 1,260 Palestinian deaths in Gaza due to Israeli military actions. In total, approximately 73,389 Palestinians have lost their lives since the onset of the latest conflict sparked by Hamas’s attacks in early October 2023.
In parallel, Israel’s territorial control in Gaza has expanded, now encompassing nearly 70 percent of the enclave. The dire humanitarian situation has raised international concerns, making Kushner’s visit even more critical at this juncture.
Escalating Settler Violence
Kushner’s diplomatic mission also coincides with a troubling spike in violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Human rights organizations assert that such violence is often tacitly condoned by Israeli military forces. An alarming incident occurred recently in the village of Qusra, where settlers reportedly besieged local residents, cutting off essential services like water and electricity in what appears to be an effort for land expropriation.
This surge in violence has triggered unprecedented critiques from U.S. officials, including a condemnation from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. He denounced the actions against a home belonging to a dual U.S. citizen, labeling them as “disgusting” and indicative of wider issues surrounding settler conduct. While Huckabee’s position has traditionally supported Israeli settlements that many deem illegal, he emphasized the U.S. Embassy’s active role in addressing such acts of violence.
Statistics compiled by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have revealed alarming trends, with over 3,000 recorded settler attacks occurring between January 2025 and June 2026, averaging about six incidents each day. So far in 2026, Israeli forces and settlers have been implicated in the deaths of 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, as reported by the U.N. The situation remains precarious, highlighting the urgent need for effective diplomacy to restore peace.