Kushner Reveals US Leveraged Israel's Doha Strike Isolation for Gaza Deal

Jared Kushner, former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, disclosed that the U.S. administration exploited Israel's "international isolation" following an Israeli strike in Doha to pressure Jerusalem into accepting a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release. Kushner described the Doha strike as a "grave mistake" by Israel that failed to achieve its objectives and increased its global isolation.

Washington leveraged this situation to push Israel towards the agreement, despite initial Israeli "discomfort" with the U.S. administration's proposed steps. Kushner stated the outcome was positive for both Israel and Gaza's residents, with the eventual deal gaining Israeli approval. He emphasized that the "Doha strike changed the course of negotiations."

Kushner's remarks shed light on the impact of the strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha during ongoing ceasefire and hostage exchange talks. Previous statements by Kushner and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff indicated the strike damaged trust between Washington and Jerusalem, prompting a renegotiation of the U.S. strategy.

Witkoff noted the strike eroded Qatar's confidence in the negotiations, leading U.S. mediators to involve Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey more deeply. Kushner explained the Trump team consolidated previous ceasefire proposals into a single document, seeking Arab support before approaching Israel and Hamas.

Speaking on "60 Minutes," Kushner detailed a U.S. plan designed to streamline negotiations and provide mediators more flexibility. He believes Arab and Israeli endorsement of the plan shifted the international dynamic, leaving Hamas more isolated. These revelations align with the U.S. administration's narrative of using post-Doha strike political shifts to broker a deal, highlighting the strike as a turning point in talks that were already progressing.