Trump's son-in-law told European leaders what the U.S. plans to do with Gaza

Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, revealed during a closed-door meeting with European and Arab ministers in Brussels that the United States plans a radical overhaul of the aid system in Gaza. The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, was part of efforts to secure a major international financial package for Gaza’s reconstruction, valued nearly 9 billion euros. According to reports from Euronews, Kushner called for a complete shift away from existing humanitarian aid models, which he described as being shaped by non-governmental organizations and “terrorists.” During the video call, Kushner dismissed previous initiatives for aiding Gaza as projects created step-by-step by these groups, suggesting they were not aligned with broader geopolitical goals. He argued for a fundamental change in approach to “reverse the course of events.” His remarks left an impression that he supports marginalizing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, despite not explicitly mentioning it. Such a stance could potentially create friction with the European Union, the largest donor to UNRWA. Kushner has been a key figure in efforts to secure the large-scale international funding for Gaza's reconstruction, even though he does not hold an official government position. As a representative of the Trump administration, he is also a member of the Peace Council, a controversial body chaired by the president, tasked with overseeing the rebuilding of Gaza. His involvement underscores his growing influence in shaping policy related to the region. Kushner, married to Ivanka Trump, daughter of the US president, emphasized the need for a new model of aid delivery. According to several EU officials familiar with the content of private discussions, his participation in the meeting carried particular weight due to his direct ties with Israel. During a conference attended by Arab representatives, he remarked, “Change is like paradise, everyone wants to get there, but no one wants to die,” describing the situation in Gaza as a “permanent and unlimited obligation” where living conditions fail to improve and donors continuously apply “numbing agents” to the issue. He directly linked the current humanitarian aid system to indirect financing of Hamas, claiming that continuous financial flows have ended up in the hands of the group, enabling it to purchase weapons, build tunnels, and develop rockets. While Israel accuses UNRWA of having links with terrorist groups, the organization denies such allegations, asserting that it has redirected aid to meet immediate needs. The disarmament of Hamas emerged as a central theme in Kushner’s speech. He clearly stated that reconstruction efforts will fail until armed groups relinquish their military capabilities, emphasizing the principle of “one state, one army.” According to informed sources, Kushner implied criticism of conference participants, suggesting that the ultimate goal should be to eliminate the necessity for future international donor meetings on Gaza. Despite this, diplomats familiar with the meeting noted that the overall tone of Kushner’s statements remained conciliatory, highlighting cooperation with the European Union and regional partners. He particularly highlighted Arab states for their experience in rapid urban development for millions of people, arguing that they are best positioned to help shape the future of over two million residents in Gaza. He praised Egypt and Turkey as well. Kushner’s attendance at the conference was arranged by Dubravka Šuica, the European Union’s commissioner for the Mediterranean, who had invested considerable diplomatic effort in building relations with him following their first, and so far only, meeting with the Peace Council in Washington earlier this month. Her visit occurred amid criticism from some EU member states, which argue that negotiations should be led by the United Nations rather than the Peace Council. Šuica stated after the meeting that “only joint efforts can help rebuild Gaza,” without directly addressing Kushner’s role or his statements during the closed-door session.