Israel accuses Kushner of “retaliating” by shaping Gaza executive committee

Israel has accused Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, of “retaliating” against Tel Aviv by spearheading the formation of a new Executive Committee to administer the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports.

The allegations were raised during a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet on Sunday, which discussed how to respond to Trump’s announcement of the Executive Committee. According to the Israeli news website Walla!, cabinet members claimed that Kushner was behind the inclusion of representatives from Turkey and Qatar in the committee, despite strong Israeli opposition.

Israeli officials reportedly argued that Kushner’s move was a form of retaliation linked to Israel’s refusal to reopen the Rafah crossing. Walla! said leaders of Israel’s governing coalition view Kushner as having previously obstructed the annexation of the West Bank ahead of the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, and accuse him of creating new “obstacles” due to his close economic ties with Arab leaders.

According to the report, some cabinet members suggested that Kushner harbours “dreams of world peace” that do not always align with Israeli interests.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement that Washington did not coordinate with Israel over the composition of the Executive Committee was interpreted not as an attempt to evade responsibility, but as an effort to manage the dispute carefully and avoid deepening tensions with Trump. Netanyahu had instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to raise the issue with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio.

The Security Cabinet reportedly decided that Israel would work with the Trump administration to oppose the participation of Turkish and Qatari representatives in the Gaza Executive Committee. Israeli officials view the US move as a “profound shift” not only in how Gaza may be governed, but also in the balance of power shaping its future.

Israel has categorically rejected the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the committee, describing it as a “red line”. Israeli officials argue that Turkey cannot be considered a neutral or legitimate actor in administering Gaza, citing Ankara’s political and ideological ties with Hamas.

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