US Envoy Jared Kushner Urges Israel to Support Palestinian Prosperity for Regional Peace

Jared Kushner, accompanied by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, has returned to Israel for discussions with government officials.

US envoy Jared Kushner emphasized that Israel should facilitate Palestinian prosperity following the Gaza conflict if it aims to achieve regional integration. Kushner, who has been actively involved in ceasefire mediation efforts, delivered this message during his diplomatic engagements.

"The primary message we've conveyed to Israeli leadership is that post-war, if Israel desires integration with the broader Middle East region, it must find pathways to help Palestinians thrive and improve their conditions," Kushner stated during his CBS News interview broadcast on Sunday.

This statement was made before renewed Israeli military operations in Gaza, which followed accusations that Hamas had breached the truce by attacking Israeli forces.

Kushner, who serves as President Trump's son-in-law, previously helped facilitate groundbreaking agreements during Trump's first administration that resulted in normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations.

During the CBS interview, he acknowledged the "very difficult" current situation but expressed his focus on developing "joint security and economic opportunity" to ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians "can live peacefully side by side in a sustainable manner."

On Monday, Kushner returned to Israel with Trump's special representative Steve Witkoff for meetings expected to include discussions with Israeli government officials.

Addressing the Gaza situation since the October 10 ceasefire implementation, Kushner remarked: "Hamas is currently behaving as expected of a terrorist organization, attempting to reconstitute and reclaim their positions."

Nevertheless, he suggested that if "a viable alternative" emerges, "Hamas will ultimately fail, and Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel's security."

When questioned about the possibility of Palestinian statehood—which is recognized by most global governments but not by Israel or the United States—Kushner indicated it was "too early to determine."