Israel is acting ‘somewhat irrationally’ toward Gaza because of elections, Jared Kushner says

Jared Kushner said Israel’s election season makes the government act “somewhat irrationally” in certain respects as Washington works on a roadmap for peace in Gaza.

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Simply, they are holding chaotic elections, and that makes them somewhat irrational in certain respects.

“Simply, they are holding chaotic elections, and that makes them somewhat irrational in certain respects,” Kushner said in Kyiv on Sunday. The comments came during a news conference, according to the Times of Israel. Kushner is serving as a White House envoy in negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war and as a U.S. envoy on a Gaza peace plan.

Kushner said Washington agrees with Israel on “the end state for Gaza” and remains “determined” to overcome political obstacles in the region. Israel is less than two months from legislative elections scheduled for Oct. 27, when voters will choose the country’s unicameral parliament, the Knesset.

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the end state for Gaza

Gaza’s Health Ministry said in its latest tally that 73,651 people had died from Israeli fire in the enclave since Israel began its offensive in October 2023, following Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 people in Israel. The ministry said 1,344 people had died since the October 2025 ceasefire, while the bodies of 826 people had been recovered from the rubble. It said the remains of thousands could still be buried beneath the debris.

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determined