Jared Kushner, a former senior adviser to Donald Trump, sparked debate during an interview at Harvard University on February 15 with his remarks about Gaza's future and Middle East policy. Kushner, who played a pivotal role in crafting the Trump administration's Middle East peace plan, suggested that Israel should relocate civilians from Gaza to facilitate a cleanup operation. He highlighted the potential value of Gaza's "waterfront property" while proposing that civilians be moved to the Negev desert in southern Israel.
Kushner's comments reflected his views on Gaza and the broader Middle East landscape. He emphasized that if he were in charge of Israel, his top priority would be the evacuation of civilians from the southern city of Rafah. Kushner also entertained the possibility of relocating civilians into Egypt through diplomatic means.
“I do think right now opening up the Negev, creating a secure area there, moving the civilians out, and then going in and finishing the job would be the right move,” he stated.
During the interview, which was conducted by Professor Tarek Masoud, faculty chair of the Middle East Initiative at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Kushner criticized the concept of a Palestinian state. He described it as “a super bad idea” that “would essentially be rewarding an act of terror,” arguing that Gaza does not serve as a historical precedent for such a state. He expressed frustration over misallocated funds in Gaza, lamenting that resources had been diverted towards tunnels and munitions instead of education and innovation.
“I am not sure there is much left of Gaza at this point," Kushner remarked.
Kushner's candid discussion offered insight into potential Middle East policies under a future Trump administration. He mentioned the possibility of a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, hinting at continued efforts in advancing diplomatic relations in the region.
“Gaza’s waterfront property could be very valuable … if people would focus on building up livelihoods,” he suggested, envisioning a transformed Gaza focused on development and prosperity.
Despite acknowledging the complexities of the situation, Kushner advocated for bold measures.
“I would just bulldoze something in the Negev, I would try to move people in there,” he proposed.
His statements were later posted on YouTube by the Middle East Initiative, amplifying discussions about his approach to the region's challenges. Kushner emphasized Israel's perspective and the need to "clean it up," advocating for moving people out to facilitate this process.
“It’s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but from Israel’s perspective I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up,” he concluded.