Jared Kushner Leads White House Effort for Post-War Gaza Peace Plan, Discussing Reconstruction and Governance

In a significant development at the White House on Wednesday, Jared Kushner, a key adviser to President Donald Trump on Middle Eastern matters, attended a meeting discussing a post-conflict strategy for Gaza. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed this development.

Since President Trump’s return to office in January, Kushner, who is also the president’s son-in-law and held an influential role during his first term, has been offering quiet counsel on Middle Eastern issues to administration officials. Despite not holding an official White House position, he has remained actively engaged.

The discussions surrounding Gaza have focused on its future once the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict ends, according to one source. These talks were set to continue during Wednesday’s meeting.

On Tuesday evening, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s foreign envoy, disclosed plans for the gathering in an interview on Fox News. He stated that the president would preside over the meeting to deliberate on a plan for Gaza once hostilities subside.

Witkoff described the forthcoming plan as “robust and well-meaning,” reflecting President Trump’s humanitarian intentions towards the region.

The White House has provided scant details about the meeting, with Witkoff noting that it would be extensive. A source confirmed to CNN in the afternoon that the meeting was underway; however, the status of the negotiations remains unclear as of approximately 1:40 p.m.

A White House official stated that President Trump’s primary goal is to bring an end to the conflict and secure peace and prosperity for all parties involved. The White House currently has no further updates regarding the meeting.

The specifics of President Trump’s post-conflict plan for Gaza, including details about its reconstruction and governance, remain largely unknown.

Both the US and Israel have made it clear that Hamas cannot maintain control over Gaza once the conflict ends, leaving open questions regarding who will provide security and essential services in the region.

President Trump himself has been relatively silent on his vision for Gaza, beyond a proposal he presented in February suggesting a U.S. takeover of Gaza, followed by its residents’ relocation and subsequent transformation into a “Middle Eastern Riviera.” This proposition caused shock when first revealed but has since been scarcely mentioned.

During Trump’s visit to the Middle East in May, Kushner, who also maintains close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, informally advised administration officials on negotiations with Arab leaders. His expertise in the region stems from his tenure as a chief Middle East negotiator during Trump’s first term.