Jared Kushner, the former Middle East adviser and son-in-law of Donald Trump, has maintained his stance on recent social media remarks regarding Gaza. His statements, including praise for Gaza’s potential “waterfront property” and a suggestion for Israel to relocate civilians during military operations, have stirred controversy.
In a February interview at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Kushner emphasized the economic potential of Gaza’s coastal areas, stating, “Gaza’s waterfront property, it could be precious if people would focus on building livelihoods.” However, he criticized the Palestinian leadership for prioritizing tunnel construction and weapon accumulation over economic development.
Regarding the relocation of civilians during military operations, Kushner proposed moving residents from the crowded city of Rafah in southern Gaza to the Negev desert in south Israel. He suggested that such a move would facilitate Israeli military operations against Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza.
However, he acknowledged the potential challenges, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reluctance to allow Palestinians to return to Gaza.
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Kushner’s comments have sparked controversy, especially among far-right Israeli politicians advocating for the mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to accommodate Israeli settlers. However, this proposal has faced widespread condemnation from the Arab world.
Despite criticism, Kushner reaffirmed his position in a recent social media post, expressing disappointment with the Palestinian leadership’s allocation of Western aid towards tunnels and weapons rather than infrastructure and development. He emphasized the need for Palestinian accountability and urged citizens to demand transparency from their leaders.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with ongoing conflicts exacerbating humanitarian crises. Recent reports highlight the plight of Palestinian patients, including infants and cancer patients, facing deportation from Israeli medical facilities back to Gaza.
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International human rights organizations have condemned this action, citing violations of international law and endangerment of innocent lives. At least 22 Palestinian patients who have dealt with severe medical conditions − including babies, new mothers, and some diagnosed with cancer − will be sent back to Gaza after being treated in Israeli facilities, an Israeli advocacy group says.
“Returning residents to Gaza during a military conflict and a humanitarian crisis is against international law and poses a deliberate risk to innocent lives,” Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said. “All the more so when it concerns patients who may face a death sentence due to insanitary conditions and hunger, along with the unlikely availability of medical care.”
COGAT, the Israeli defense agency responsible for Palestinian civilians, said in a statement that Gaza residents who don’t need treatment will be returned to the enclave, and those who do require it will remain in Israeli medical facilities.
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Before the war, Palestinians who needed care not available in Gaza were allowed to receive it in Israel, but that essentially ended once hostilities began with the Oct. 7 attacks.
Meanwhile, tensions persist between Israel and Hamas, with recent Israeli airstrikes targeting senior Hamas members in the Rafah area. Netanyahu has hinted at a potential ground invasion to eliminate Hamas from Rafah despite concerns about civilian casualties and displacement.
As the situation unfolds, political leaders face mounting pressure to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and pursue diplomatic solutions to achieve lasting peace in the region. Kushner’s remarks underscore the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of navigating its multifaceted dynamics.
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