From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 26, 2026
Kushner touts help from ‘many cooperative Gazans’ in locating hostage bodies
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Donald Trump’s top aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner touts the coordination between the US, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and “many cooperative Gazans” who helped locate and return the bodies of all deceased hostages from Gaza.
He doesn’t elaborate on those efforts, but Ynet reported on Friday that a Palestinian informant retrieved the body of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul from a locked refrigerator in January 2025, wrapped it in a rug and carried it on his shoulder for 1.5 kilometers to IDF troops in Gaza.
“Coordination and trust were built between individuals and organizations where none previously existed. This produced tangible results,” Kushner says in an X post.
“Helping the people of Gaza start a new chapter free from the tyranny of Hamas is a critical mission to prevent future death and destruction for Israelis and Palestinians,” he continues. “This will also eliminate a flashpoint manipulated by disingenuous actors to mobilize antisemitism and other forms of division and hatred.”
“We are trying new approaches, hoping to achieve new outcomes. This is an end, but also a new beginning,” Kushner adds.
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