Jared Kushner’s Financial Ties Amid Gaza Negotiations
Reports suggest that Jared Kushner, the U.S. Special Envoy for Peace, is benefiting financially from the ongoing conflict in Iran while also playing a crucial role in negotiations regarding Gaza. This was first highlighted by CNN.
Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, is prominently invested in Phoenix Financial, a company based in Tel Aviv that supports businesses engaged in military operations in Israel. He has characterized Phoenix Financial as “the best investment” for Affinity Partners.
According to CNN, Affinity holds a significant 7.4% stake in Phoenix, valued at over $1 billion as of July. Phoenix has invested around $465 million in nine different firms that supply equipment to the Israeli military, including drones and demolition machinery. It has also funneled hundreds of millions into Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer. However, it’s noted that Affinity itself does not own shares in these nine companies.
Kushner has been instrumental in fostering peace agreements in the Middle East, notably playing a key role in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in October 2025. He believes that financial incentives may pave the way for sustained peace.
“When you get Arabs and Israelis together discussing business, they tend to overlook everything else and find common ground,” he stated during an appearance on the “No Priors” podcast in September 2025. “My investors from the Middle East are recognizing that there are potential gains from ending these conflicts.”
An attorney representing Kushner clarified to CNN that he has not influenced Phoenix’s investment decisions or had a role in managing their financial activities. He noted that Kushner would occasionally discuss potential strategies with the management of Phoenix.
Reportedly, Kushner’s engagement with Phoenix’s operations diminished as he immersed himself in diplomatic work. However, after his firm became the biggest shareholder, Phoenix made strategic investments in companies that produce electronic components used in military operations.
For instance, Phoenix has a $68 million stake in Next Vision, which manufactures cameras for military drones, and has invested over $40 million in Reshef Technologies, specialized in electronic fuzes for shells. Since the onset of the current conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, the company has secured around $165 million in contracts from the Israeli Ministry of Defense. They’ve also dabbled in investments with companies like Caterpillar and Boeing, both of which have ties to Israeli military contracts.
The White House has stated that Kushner’s business interests are completely distinct from his diplomatic efforts. Anna Kelly, principal deputy press secretary, emphasized that Kushner’s business activities are separate from his volunteer diplomatic role at the President’s request.
Requests for comments from Phoenix Financial and the White House remained unanswered. Notably, Kushner founded the company that evolved into Affinity Partners in January 2021, right after President Trump’s first term concluded. The firm later garnered a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2023, Affinity made its initial investment in Israel, obtaining a 15% stake in the Shlomo Group for $150 million.
In 2024, Affinity acquired a 4.95% share in Phoenix Financial for $128.5 million, which Kushner framed as a wager on Israel’s economic resilience.
Kushner has had a longstanding relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, having known him since adolescence, and has collaborated closely with him throughout the Trump administration.
