Kushner marks one year of Trump's Gaza peace plan, cites progress and challenges ahead

Jerusalem Post/Middle EastKushner marks a year of Trump's Gaza peace plan, citing hostage returns and increased aid while warning that Hamas disarmament remains unfinished.Follow us on GoogleJared Kushner as part of the US Delegation at Lake Lucerne Summit at the Buergenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, Switzerland.(photo credit: Urs Flueeler/Pool via REUTERS)OCTOBER 10, 2026 09:54Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, marked one year since an agreement was reached on Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza on Friday, saying significant progress had been made in implementing the agreement over the past year.Kushner highlighted several milestones, including the return of the 20 living hostages to Israel in October 2025, the return of the remains of the final hostage in January 2026, the establishment of the Board of Peace and an international stabilization force, and the formation of a technocratic Palestinian administration to govern the Gaza Strip.According to Kushner, humanitarian aid to Gaza has increased significantly since the ceasefire took effect. He also noted that Hamas signed a phased disarmament framework in July, though he acknowledged the process has yet to be fully implemented.Kushner: Progress is real, but challenges remain"The situation is far from perfect, but the progress is real, and the world is better off because of it," Kushner wrote.US Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio look on as US President Donald Trump holds up a resolution document that he signed during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, on February 19. (credit: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)Looking ahead, Kushner said the coming year would require completing the disarmament process, establishing security, restoring essential services, and rebuilding communities throughout the Gaza Strip.Kushner also thanked Trump, Steve Witkoff, the vice president, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and several regional partners, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, for their roles in advancing the agreement.Hamas sees Gaza war survival as victory over IsraelOne of the key points going forward that Kushner pointed out was the disarmament of Hamas, something the plan might be far from achieving following recent reports about a new Hamas operation that will involve establishing defenses in Gaza City.According to Friday intelligence presented to Israel's senior political and defense leadership, including the prime minister and defense minister, Hamas's leadership views its ability to withstand the IDF over the past three years as a form of "victory," despite Israel's control of approximately 70% of the Gaza Strip.Hamas considers Israel's territorial control "temporary," according to the information presented to officials."They are convinced that US President Donald Trump's points-based plan for the Gaza Strip, which his son-in-law Kushner is advancing, including a plan for economic development involving tens of billions of dollars in investment, is a direct continuation of Sheik Ahmed Yassin's vision from 1999," a senior security official said. "They believe in it even if it is delayed."The senior security official added: "They tell themselves, and we can see this, that by launching an attack with men wearing beards, jalabiyas, and flip-flops, and through their steadfast resistance against the IDF even after three years, they have not been defeated. They have not surrendered to an army that everyone says is the strongest in the Middle East. Something no other Arab army in the Middle East has managed to achieve."According to the official, Hamas is therefore preparing for an IDF ground maneuver toward Gaza City, despite tensions between the terrorist organization's local leadership and Khalil al-Hayya in Qatar.Follow us on Google