Kushner pushes Netanyahu to gamble on Hamas as Trump demands Israel stop Gaza strikes

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give Hamas a chance to prove it will disarm during a four-hour meeting on Monday, August 17, even as Trump separately called for Israel to stop strikes in Gaza.

The meeting exposed the difficult balance between Washington’s push to advance Trump’s Gaza plan and Israel’s deep skepticism toward Hamas.

A US official said Kushner told Netanyahu that the US wants Israel to take “small steps” to determine whether Hamas is genuinely prepared to surrender its weapons. Kushner arrived after meeting Hamas leaders and mediators in Egypt.

Jared Kushner seeks test of Hamas intentions

Netanyahu questioned Kushner about his meeting with Hamas and expressed deep doubts about the group’s commitment to demilitarization.

Kushner argued that direct engagement could establish whether Hamas was willing to move forward.

“The last time Steve Witkoff and I met with Hamas leaders, it led to the release of all the hostages,” Kushner told Netanyahu, according to the US official.

Under the proposed process, Hamas would hand its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic government, which would transfer them to an International Stabilization Force for destruction.

Netanyahu also presented Kushner with two public opinion polls. One showed that a majority of Israelis oppose rebuilding Gaza before Hamas is demilitarized, while another found most Israelis support continuing strikes against imminent threats in Gaza.

Kushner said the US does not expect Israel to ignore imminent threats from Hamas, while stressing that reconstruction under Trump’s plan would begin only after demilitarization.

Trump's Gaza remarks add tension to talks

Trump’s position added another layer of tension to the discussions.

While Kushner and Netanyahu were meeting, Trump told Fox News that Israel should stop its airstrikes in Gaza, though a Board of Peace official said the president was referring to strikes that were not aimed at imminent threats.

The two sides also remain divided over what constitutes an imminent threat.

To address that issue, Kushner and Netanyahu agreed to establish a “deconfliction” mechanism involving Egyptian mediators to monitor alleged violations and prevent further escalation.

Netanyahu also committed to steps aimed at improving Gaza’s humanitarian conditions, particularly water and sanitation, according to the US official.

The meeting produced plans for two working groups: one focused on Hamas’ demilitarization and another on Gaza’s humanitarian situation.

Netanyahu’s office said demilitarization must be completed before reconstruction begins. A Board of Peace official said Israel had agreed to “give this a chance,” but stressed that Hamas would now have to demonstrate whether it genuinely intends to comply.