White House Middle East adviser Jared Kushner and the IDF are each preparing separate contingency plans for Gaza in the event that President Donald Trumps much-touted 20-point plan falters, according to Yisrael Hayom.
Kushner, who has reemerged as a central figure in the administrations Middle East policy, reportedly told an Israeli source this week that he is working on a plan B to stabilize Gaza, citing the difficulty of both disarming Hamas and securing commitments from Arab and regional partners to deploy peacekeeping forces on the ground.
The challenge is not in drafting agreements its in finding countries willing to put boots on the ground and confront Hamas, Kushner was quoted as saying.
His remarks underscore growing doubts among U.S. and Israeli officials about the feasibility of Trumps sweeping postwar roadmap, which envisions a demilitarized Gaza under an interim Arab-led administration and eventual reconstruction funded by Gulf states.
At a recent meeting of Israels security cabinet, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told ministers that the military is also crafting its own alternative to the Trump plan. Zamir reportedly said the IDFs proposal expected to be presented in the coming weeks will prioritize operational control and security stability in Gaza should the U.S.-led initiative stall.
Zamirs statement reflects growing impatience within Israels defense establishment over the lack of clarity in Washingtons plan, which has drawn skepticism from both right-wing coalition members and the Israeli opposition. Several cabinet ministers have privately expressed concern that the U.S. blueprint overestimates Arab willingness to take responsibility for Gazas governance while underestimating the risks of a premature withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Trumps 20-point plan aims to combine military, political, and economic components to achieve irreversible demilitarization of Gaza, a return of hostages, and the installation of a regional stabilization force drawn from Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. But nearly two months in, officials acknowledge progress has been slow amid resistance from Arab capitals and disagreements within Israels war cabinet.
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