In a significant statement regarding the future of the Middle East, U.S. envoy Jared Kushner asserted that for Israel to achieve broader regional integration following the Gaza conflict, it must actively contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the Palestinian people.
During an interview aired on October 19, 2025, Kushner conveyed a crucial message to Israeli leadership: “Now that the war is over, if you want to integrate Israel with the broader Middle East, you have to find a way to help the Palestinian people thrive and do better.” This appeal underscores the administration’s view on the path to lasting peace and stability.
These remarks came amidst renewed Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. Israel claimed these strikes were in response to Hamas’s alleged violations of a ceasefire, accusing the militant group of attempting to re-establish its positions.
Kushner, who is the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, previously played a pivotal role in negotiating the Abraham Accords, groundbreaking agreements that led to several Arab nations normalizing relations with Israel during Trump’s first presidential term.
Reflecting on the current “very difficult” situation, Kushner highlighted his commitment to fostering “joint security and economic opportunity.” He believes these elements are essential to ensure Israelis and Palestinians can “live peacefully side by side in a durable way.”
His return to Israel on October 20, accompanied by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, included anticipated meetings with Israeli government officials to further discuss these critical issues.
Addressing the post-ceasefire situation in Gaza, Kushner stated, “Hamas right now is doing exactly what you would expect a terrorist organisation to do, which is to try to reconstitute and take back their positions.”
However, he offered a hopeful perspective, arguing that the emergence of “a viable alternative” would lead to Hamas’s failure, ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel’s future security.
When pressed on the widely recognized concept of a Palestinian state—a solution supported by most global governments but not yet by Israel or the United States—Kushner maintained that it was “too early to tell.”