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Israeli Strike on Gaza Undermines Trump Peace Efforts

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A day after President Trump's envoy, Jared Kushner, visited Israel to advance a stalled plan for demilitarizing and rebuilding Gaza, the Israeli military said it targeted Hamas commanders in a deadly strike. The operation raises serious doubts about the viability of the administration's peace framework, which hinges on security guarantees and reconstruction.

Kushner's trip aimed to breathe life into a proposal that has languished amid ongoing hostilities and political deadlock. The plan envisions a demilitarized Gaza governed by a reformed Palestinian Authority, with international funding for rebuilding. However, the strike — described by Israel as targeting militant leadership — underscores the fragile security environment that has repeatedly derailed diplomatic initiatives.

Hamas has not issued an immediate detailed response, but the group has historically vowed retaliation for targeted killings. The timing, so close to Kushner's departure, suggests either operational independence by the military or a deliberate signal that security operations will continue regardless of diplomatic overtures.

Analysts warn that without a cease-fire mechanism and political horizon, military actions risk entrenching the cycle of violence, making the Kushner plan's preconditions — demilitarization and governance reform — even harder to achieve.