Jared Kushner arrives in Israel for Gaza talks with Netanyahu, source says

JERUSALEM - US President Donald Trump's influential son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived in Israel on Nov 9 for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on implementing the US plan to end the Gaza war, a source familiar with the matter said.

Mr Kushner was expected to meet with Mr Netanyahu on Nov 10, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity as the meeting had not been formally announced. The White House and Mr Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Mr Trump

announced a 20-point plan in September

to end the two-year-old war in the Palestinian territory, starting with a ceasefire that came into effect on Oct 10 and the handover of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The militant group has released 20 living hostages and the remains of 24 hostages from Gaza since Oct 10. There are four deceased hostages whose remains are still being held in Gaza.

The next phase of the ceasefire is supposed to see the standing up of a multinational force that would gradually take over security inside Gaza from the Israeli military.

An Israeli government spokesperson said earlier on Nov 9 that there would be "no Turkish boots on the ground" in Gaza as part of that multinational force.

Asked about Israel's objections to Turkish forces in Gaza, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said at a Manama security conference earlier in November that Turkey would participate.

Vice-President J.D. Vance said in October there would be a "constructive role" for Ankara to play but that Washington wouldn't force anything on Israel when it came to foreign troops "on their soil". REUTERS