Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss the fragile Gaza ceasefire and the next steps in implementing a longer-term peace framework. The meeting came as Israel returned the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza and continued reviewing its military’s failures in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war.
The talks between Kushner and Netanyahu focused on the transition from the ceasefire’s first phase — the halting of active hostilities, release of hostages, and humanitarian aid delivery — to its second phase, which envisions the establishment of a governing authority for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. The timeline and composition of these efforts remain uncertain, with both Israeli and Palestinian officials offering little clarity.
Under the current agreement, for each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 315 bodies have now been repatriated, though only 91 have been identified. The lack of DNA testing equipment in Gaza has slowed the process, forcing families to rely on photographs published online to recognise their relatives.
Among those waiting for answers is Shaima Abu Ouda from Khan Younis, who has been searching for her 15-year-old son, missing since the October 7 attack. “Rayyan has been missing for two years. I don’t know his fate,” she said, describing her daily visits to hospitals in the hope of identifying his remains.
The ceasefire, in place since October 10, has brought relative calm after months of intense fighting that left more than 69,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run administration, maintains detailed casualty records that independent observers say are largely reliable. Israel’s October 7 assault by Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 hostages taken.
The latest remains exchange also included the body of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, killed in Gaza during the 2014 war. His return closes one of Israel’s longest-standing missing-soldier cases. A state funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military released its internal review of the October 7 attack, confirming severe intelligence and operational lapses. Investigators found that early warnings of Hamas activity were not properly assessed, and ground forces failed to respond adequately even as the assault unfolded. The report cited “a lack of professional analysis” that could have prevented the incursion, which overwhelmed Israeli defences along the Gaza border. Netanyahu has resisted calls for an independent commission to investigate government accountability, saying such an inquiry should wait until the war fully ends. Critics accuse him of deflecting blame.
Kushner’s visit also had a humanitarian and diplomatic dimension. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said over one million Palestinians have received food aid since the ceasefire began, with the distribution of blankets and winter supplies underway. However, he warned that logistical hurdles, including limited border access, continue to slow the delivery of relief. “We can do much more to save many more lives,” he said.
Kushner is reportedly helping mediate discussions on a separate arrangement for 150 to 200 Hamas fighters trapped in a small enclave known as the “yellow zone” under Israeli control. The plan under consideration would grant safe passage in exchange for their surrender and disarmament following the completion of hostage and remains exchanges. Hamas has not commented publicly on the negotiations, though it has confirmed ongoing clashes in the area.
In a related development, residents of the West Bank village of Umm al-Khair — recently featured in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land — said they were preparing for Israeli demolitions of 14 structures, including homes and community facilities. Israeli authorities argue the buildings were constructed illegally, while residents say they have been repeatedly denied permits and face routine violence from nearby settlers.
The village, home to Bedouin families displaced from the Negev desert in 1948, has long symbolised the deep-rooted tensions in the West Bank. Its residents say the renewed demolition orders highlight the continued human cost of the conflict even as diplomatic efforts, like Kushner’s talks with Netanyahu, aim to prevent another war in Gaza.
The coming weeks are expected to test whether the fragile ceasefire can evolve into a lasting peace. While Kushner’s visit signals US commitment to stabilising Gaza, the political realities on both sides — including Israel’s domestic divisions and Hamas’s fractured leadership — continue to threaten the process.
