Kushner describes the destruction in Gaza: "As if a nuclear bomb exploded there".. and refuses to describe it as "genocide."

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump and one of the key architects of the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, provided a shocking description of the immense destruction he witnessed in the Gaza Strip during his recent field visit, stating that the scene looked "as if a nuclear bomb had exploded there," but at the same time refused to acknowledge that what happened amounted to "genocide."

Kushner's remarks came more than a week after his visit to the region alongside U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, following the implementation of the ceasefire, reflecting the magnitude of the disaster left by the ongoing war for more than two years, which has led to widespread destruction of infrastructure, civilian homes, schools, and hospitals.

His statements sparked widespread controversy, especially given his refusal to use the legal term that many human rights organizations and countries considered the most accurate to describe what occurred.

In describing what he saw, Kushner said: "It looked like a nuclear bomb had exploded in that area." He added that what particularly affected him was the sight of people returning to their destroyed areas, in the absence of any means of living.

He recounted: "I saw people going back, so I asked the Israeli army: Where are they going? They told me they are returning to the areas where their homes were destroyed, to their land, to set up a tent on the rubble."

Kushner confirmed that this scene was "extremely sad, especially since everything was destroyed," adding: "It is very sad because you think to yourself and say they have nowhere else to go."

He clarified that the destruction was not limited to buildings but also included schools, hospitals, and public facilities, making reconstruction a massive and complex task.

Despite his shocking description of the destruction, when directly asked in an interview with CBS News whether what happened in Gaza was "genocide," Kushner, along with envoy Witkoff, answered "no," considering what occurred to be a war within the context of the ongoing conflict.

This stance differs from the descriptions of many international human rights organizations and member states of the United Nations, in addition to claims presented to the International Court of Justice, which viewed the escalation of military operations as having catastrophic effects on civilians and intervened to document the alleged violations.

Kushner played a pivotal role in reaching the Sharm El Sheikh agreement that ended the war and imposed a fragile truce between the two sides. In his recent statements, he indicated that the United States still sees Hamas as seeking to adhere to its commitments under the agreement.

Kushner stated: "We wanted to release the hostages and we wanted a real ceasefire that both sides respect, and both sides wanted to achieve that goal, and we just need to find a way to help everyone reach it."

He added that the next phase requires ongoing international efforts to ensure respect for the agreement, provide humanitarian aid, and urgently rebuild to ensure the stability of civilian life.

Current efforts are focused on implementing the agreement's provisions related to the issue of remains and reconstruction, and outlining the contours of the "next day" phase in the devastated sector, where Gaza needs urgent plans to restore essential infrastructure, including electricity, water, and sanitation, and to reopen schools and hospitals that have been severely damaged.

Kushner emphasized that the immense destruction he witnessed will pose "a huge challenge for anyone wishing to achieve stability," calling on the international community to provide tangible and swift support to the sector, to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis threatening the lives of thousands of civilians.