Kushner, Blair join Trump’s White House meeting on post-war Gaza plan

Former US Middle East envoy Jared Kushner and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair joined President Donald Trump at the White House on August 27 for talks on a potential plan for Gaza after the war, according to sources familiar with the meeting.

The Oval Office session, which lasted more than an hour, also included Steve Witkoff, Trump’s foreign envoy, along with senior administration officials. The precise details of the discussions remain unclear, Caliber.Az reports via CNN. 

Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, who served as his senior adviser during his first term, has been informally advising officials on regional issues since Trump’s return to office in January. Sources said one focus of his talks has been the future governance and reconstruction of Gaza once Israel’s nearly two-year military campaign ends. Kushner’s participation in the meeting was first reported by Axios.

Witkoff previewed the talks in a Fox News interview the previous evening, saying the president would lead discussions on a post-war strategy.

“It’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together on the next day that I think many people are going to be – they’re going to see how robust it is and how well-meaning it is,” Witkoff said. “And it reflects President Trump’s humanitarian motives here.”

The White House offered few details, describing the meeting as “large.”

“President Trump has been clear that he wants the war to end, and he wants peace and prosperity for everyone in the region. The White House has nothing additional to share on the meeting at this time,” a US official said.

The US and Israel have both insisted that Hamas cannot retain control of Gaza once the war is over, leaving open questions about who will provide security, deliver basic services, and oversee reconstruction.

Trump has said little publicly about his long-term vision for the territory, beyond a controversial proposal he outlined in February for a US takeover of Gaza, relocation of its residents, and redevelopment into a “Middle Eastern Riviera.” The plan, announced alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, drew widespread criticism and has rarely been mentioned since.

Kushner, who helped broker the Abraham Accords during Trump’s first term, maintains deep ties with leaders across the Middle East and has longstanding personal connections with Netanyahu. Blair, meanwhile, has remained active in Middle East policy circles since leaving office in 2007.

By Sabina Mammadli