Three of U.S. President Donald Trump's close advisers – senior adviser Jared Kushner, special U.S. representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt, and Ambassador to Israel David Friedman – jointly penned an opinion piece for the Washington Post on Friday titled, "Help is at hand for Palestinians. It's all up to Hamas."
In the op-ed, the three advisers outline Washington's diplomatic vision, offering substantial international aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on condition that Hamas, the terrorist group the controls the coastal enclave, stop all forms of terrorism and repatriate the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and return two Israeli captives it is believed to be holding.
"The nightmare of Hamas' leadership is continuing and needlessly prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza," the advisers write.
"Despite the billions of dollars invested for the benefit of Palestinians in Gaza over the past 70 years, 53% of the people there live below the poverty level and the unemployment rate is a crippling 49%.
"Life could significantly improve in short order for the Palestinian people if Hamas allowed it."
The advisers write that the international community is eagerly waiting for Hamas to take the necessary steps to become eligible for substantial economic assistance.
"There are engaged, interested parties with resources who are ready to get to work," they write.
"Yet without real change accompanied by reliable security, progress is impossible. If Hamas demonstrates clear, peaceful intentions – not just by word but, more importantly, by deed – then all manner of new opportunities becomes possible."
The advisers say that by refusing to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, Hamas is fighting a losing war.
"Seventy years after the founding of Israel, it would be wise for Hamas to acknowledge that the existence of Israel is a permanent reality. Almost all in the Middle East have come to accept this fact, and many even embrace it," they write.
They urge Hamas to immediately stop provoking and attacking Israel and Egypt and to stop sabotaging infrastructure projects funded by external donors and organizations.
"Rather than looking for opportunities to weaponize everything from kites to mirrors in order to attack Israel, Hamas should focus its ingenuity on improving the Gazan economy," they write.
They also criticize Hamas for its "barbaric" habit of holding Israeli soldiers and civilians captive, for misusing border crossings to smuggle contraband and weapons into Gaza, and for misdirecting tax revenues by funding illicit activities and engaging in corruption.
"Hamas must hand those functions over in their entirety to the Palestinian Authority so that badly needed materials can get through to the people of Gaza. The international community stands ready to work with the Palestinian Authority on this vital effort," they write.
Concluding their op-ed, they say the international community is also partially responsible for the Gaza crisis.
"More countries want to simply talk and condemn than are willing to confront reality, propose realistic solutions and write meaningful checks. The United States has invested more money in helping the Palestinian people than has any other country in the world," they write.
