Gaza Reconstruction Conditional on Disarmament, Says Kushner, Amid Denial of Secret Kiryat Gat Meeting
JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON :Reports claiming a meeting took place between U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and Yasser Abu Shabab, a leader of an anti-Hamas armed group in the Gaza Strip, were firmly denied by both Israeli and senior American sources on Tuesday evening.
The reports, broadcast by the Saudi-owned news channel Al Hadath – Al Arabiya, alleged that the meeting took place at the Civilian Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel. The CMCC is a multinational hub recently established by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to coordinate stabilization and humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli source informed the Reshet Kan Hebrew channel that the claims were untrue, stating that Abu Shabab “did not arrive in Israel and of course did not meet Kushner at the American command in Kiryat Gat.” The source further confirmed that Kushner has not visited the Civilian Military Coordination headquarters since the arrival of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the center.
A senior American official speaking to Axios also provided a definitive denial, saying simply, “the reports of a Kushner-Abu Shabab meeting are false.”
Yasser Abu Shabab is the leader of the “Popular Forces,” an armed group in Gaza described as a militia with alleged ties to Israel and known for its opposition to Hamas.
Meanwhile, the newspaper Yisrael Hayom reported on internal discussions involving Kushner regarding the future of Gaza’s rebuilding.
According to the report, Kushner has stated that the reconstruction of the sector on the western side of the “yellow line” (a key demarcation line in Gaza) will not begin until Hamas dismantles its weapons. This condition aligns with the second phase of the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, which requires the full demilitarization of Gaza.