Netanyahu and Kushner clash over continued Israeli strikes on October 7 operatives

According to The Times of Israel, the primary dispute during Monday's meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US special envoy Jared Kushner centered on the premier's insistence that Israel continue strikes against Hamas operatives in Gaza who participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks. An official present at the meeting stated that no agreement was reached on the matter. While Kushner acknowledged Israel's right to counter imminent threats, he cautioned that this exception should not be interpreted broadly. Furthermore, Kushner took issue with Netanyahu's refusal to allow recruits for the new Palestinian police force to leave Gaza for training in Egypt. Under the US-backed 'Board of Peace' disarmament plan, Hamas is expected to hand over its weapons to this new police force; however, officials suggest that without adequate training for these recruits, the handover process faces significant hurdles. Netanyahu has expressed opposition to the Board of Peace disarmament proposal, and his current policy may conflict with Donald Trump's 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war, which the prime minister had previously accepted.