Kushner Faces Blame From Israeli Officials Over Turkey, Qatar Roles on Gaza Board

Senior members of Israel’s security cabinet have privately pointed the finger at Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, for orchestrating the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar on the controversial Gaza Executive Board an offshoot of Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace.

In a closed-door discussion on Sunday, several Israeli ministers alleged that Kushner’s personal relationships in the region and past policy disputes with Jerusalem played a decisive role in shaping the board’s makeup. “He is taking revenge,” one minister claimed, citing Israel’s refusal to reopen the Rafah Crossing as a trigger for what they described as Kushner’s pushback.

The ministers also referenced the stalled 2020 sovereignty declaration, saying Kushner derailed it and has since remained a thorn in Israel’s side by advancing frameworks that align more closely with Arab preferences. “He has fantasies about world peace that do not always align with Israeli interests,” another official was quoted as saying.

At the center of the criticism is the role of Qatar and Turkey, two nations Israel strongly opposes involving in Gaza’s postwar governance. Ankara has openly supported Hamas and frequently engages in anti-Israel rhetoric, while Doha has long served as a host and financier for Hamas leadership. The inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the Executive Board, in particular, was described as crossing a red line for Israel.

Officials stressed that Israel continues to work effectively with the broader U.S. administration and that the directive for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to address the matter with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was a deliberate effort to manage the dispute calmly and professionally. “This is not about shifting blame,” one participant said. “It’s about keeping the matter at the diplomatic level.”

Jerusalem’s core objection is not the idea of a Palestinian civilian body managing day-to-day affairs in Gaza, but rather the identity of the actors surrounding it. Ministers fear that granting influence to hostile regimes could compromise Israeli security and legitimize actors aligned with Hamas ideology.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace as a founding member, his office released a strong statement over the weekend rejecting the Executive Board’s composition. The announcement, they said, “was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.”

The tension underscores a growing concern within Israel’s leadership: that outside figures even those with longstanding ties to Israel may prioritize diplomatic pageantry over the security realities Jerusalem must face.

As the situation continues to evolve, Israel remains firm in its position: any future for Gaza must be shaped by partners who respect Israeli security and reject terror not empower it.

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