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BRUSSELS — Jared Kushner joined a major EU-backed conference on Gaza by video link Monday as Brussels launched a nearly €900 million international initiative aimed at restoring essential services and beginning the territory’s early recovery.
The meeting of the Palestine Donor Group brings together 65 delegations and launched the Team Gaza Initiative, with an initial package of €883.6 million. The funding will support water and sanitation, waste removal, health care, energy, agriculture and food systems.
Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a member of the U.S.-appointed Gaza Executive Board, has played a central role in developing Washington’s postwar plan for the territory, including its proposals for reconstruction, investment and governance under the Board of Peace. An EU official, granted anonymity to speak freely on the matter, confirmed he had dialed into the call on Monday afternoon.
Kushner’s participation is a win for the European Commission, which is seeking to coordinate support among the U.S.-backed Board of Peace, the Palestinian Authority, European governments and established international aid bodies.
Among the cash pledges announced Monday, the Commission and the European Investment Bank proposed contributing €257 million to the package, with Spain, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium and the World Bank also participating.
The conference comes days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the first Palestinian legislative election since 2006.
This is a developing story.
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