Netanyahu-Kushner Talks Agree Gaza Sanitation Work and Keep Israeli Strikes for Now

An Israeli political official said Monday that talks in Jerusalem between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy Jared Kushner produced an agreement to begin urgent sanitation and water infrastructure work in Gaza to prevent epidemics and groundwater contamination. According to the official, all remaining reconstruction will proceed only after Hamas is fully disarmed, and Israel will retain IDF freedom of action and continue its current policy of targeted strikes for now. Kushner, joined by Nickolay Mladenov, Tony Blair and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, pressed Netanyahu not to create obstacles to the 15-point Gaza plan. The official said Israel does not expect Hamas to disarm voluntarily, while the Americans consider it possible.