Arlene Kushner | January 17, 2026
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When Shabbat ended, I had intended to write about what is happening with Iran – and I will come back to that. But the news that has broken with regard to what Trump is doing in Gaza is duplicitous and infuriating.
And so, this matter takes precedence for me; I will attempt to return to the issue of Iran shortly. What I address here is a story that is still unfolding, and so I will stick to basics in order to get this out tonight. Undoubtedly more will follow.
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On Friday, news broke about comments regarding Hamas made by envoy Steve Witkoff at a conference in Hollywood FL on Thursday and subsequent press briefings during the night.
When asked about Hamas disarmament, he replied (emphasis added):
“I think they will disarm. The president was not afraid to allow Jared and me to meet Hamas [in Sharm el-Sheikh in October]. We met them, and that was the key to the deal.
“That meeting was, in my view, the key to the deal because it showed that we adopted direct negotiations. It was the breakthrough in the 20-point peace plan, and we may need to meet them again. We are not threatened by meeting them. Communication is the most important thing.”
When Witkoff was asked about leverage over Hamas, he maintained that the group could be persuaded that disarmament was in its own interest.
“I think we can show Hamas that disarmament is the right thing for long-term peace and for the future. And the Gaza reconstruction plan, under President Trump’s oversight, is an unbelievable plan. Gaza is meant to become an amazing place.”
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/01/16/witkoff-to-israel-hayom-hamas-will-disarm/
New York Post
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And so, I ask, could anyone in his position be THAT naïve? That stupid: that totally devoid of understanding of the goals of Hamas?
Hamas is not interested in peace and has no interest whatsoever in the ways in which Trump can make Gaza beautiful. Witkoff has no advisors who teach him these basics?
Hamas is interested in killing Jews and taking down Israel. Period. And to that end, Hamas is strengthening day by day.
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I wrote about the meeting Witkoff (and Jared Kushner) had with Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. It was truly a stomach-turning affair, as Witkoff, who had lost a son to an overdose, commiserated with al-Hayya, who had lost a son when Israel attacked Hamas officials meeting in Qatar. “We are members of the same club,” he told this political leader of the terrorist group responsible for October 7. Witkoff was proud of his statement, as he believed it created a bond with Hayya.
What I also wrote at that time was that the direct meeting was a serious mistake, for it elevated the status of Hamas internationally.
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If it is not just naivete that led to Witkoff making the statement he did on Thursday, then what?
There are two possibilities, and they are not mutually exclusive. Either Witkoff does not really care if Hamas disarms, because he is in bed with elements (primarily Qatar) that want Hamas to remain standing.
Or, he is following the lead of his boss, the president, who wants what he wants and lets nothing stand in his way. Certainly not a bothersome issue such as the disarmament of Hamas. Hey! To the man who has declared he will have Greenland, what is Gaza, where he wants to build?
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And here we are: on Friday Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that he was beginning phase two of his “Peace Plan.” This is in spite of the fact that all the specifications for moving to the next phase have not been met: Hamas has not been disarmed, and the remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, have not been returned.
The plan is a complicated affair. At the top is a somewhat symbolic Board of Peace, consisting of Trump and other world leaders. Names have not been announced, but invitations have gone out. Trump declared that “I can say with certainty that it is the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled at any time, any place.”
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Beneath this Board is an Executive Board that will be more directly involved in overseeing the postwar management of Gaza.
Included in this Executive Board are Turkey, to be represented by its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Qatar, to be represented by its senior diplomat Ali Thawadi. Both are anti-Israel and supportive of Hamas. As bad as Qatar is, Turkey is the more dangerous.
Also participating will be Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, UAE International Cooperation Minister Reem Al-Hashimy, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay, former UN humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag, and former UN envoy to the Mideast Nickolay Mladenov.
“Mladenov, who will effectively head the panel, was given the title of high representative for Gaza, and will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the panel of Palestinian technocrats running daily affairs in the Strip.”
That group of 15 Palestinian technocrats – dubbed the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) – will be headed by former Palestinian Authority deputy planning minister Ali Shaath. NCAG held its first meeting in Cairo with Mladenov on Thursday.
Shaath says the Committee will pursue “peace, democracy, and justice.”
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“The plan also calls for the deployment of an international stabilization force to help secure Gaza and train vetted Palestinian police units.”
This is the part of the plan that is a joke on the face of it. What does it mean, “to help secure Gaza” when Hamas is still armed and no nation other than Israel is prepared to take them on? What nations will agree to participate in this force?
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Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is fuming, has put out a statement via his office indicating that the White House’s unveiling of a key international oversight panel for Gaza “was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy.” The major concern was with regard to the inclusion of Qatar and Turkey in spite of the fact that Israel had voiced objections to their participation.
The fact that this was released publicly is indication of the seriousness of the issue.
He has instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to be in touch with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on this matter.
https://www.jns.org/netanyahus-office-trumps-gaza-committee-contradicts-israels-policy/
gov.il
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According to Times of Israel: “US official says PM [Netanyahu] deliberately not told of Qatari, Turkish inclusion on Gaza panel.”
No, obviously, this was not an oversight.
Stay tuned.
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Please, pray for all of Am Yisrael: for the wisdom and courage of our leaders and the strength of our people.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
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