Kushner Reveals Failed Doha Strike Led to Hostage Deal

Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law, revealed on Sunday that a failed Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, was the catalyst for the hostage deal signed in October 2025. Kushner, who led the initiative with former U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, described the strike as a turning point that isolated Israel internationally, enabling the U.S. administration to push both sides toward an agreement.

"We used Israel's airstrike in Doha, which was a terrible thing and didn't succeed as a military operation. It led to Israel's diplomatic isolation in the world and helped us push the sides to a deal, which today they are happy with, but at the same time, they weren't very comfortable with it," Kushner stated in an interview with Channel 12.

Kushner further asserted that the deal proved to be a significant success for both Israel and the residents of Gaza, potentially facilitating the identification of responsible parties in the Strip once a disarmament plan is advanced. The hostage agreement, finalized approximately a year ago, stipulated the release of 20 living hostages in the first phase, with additional releases of deceased hostages to follow. In exchange, Israel released 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, though it retained Hamas "Nukhba" operatives involved in the October 7th massacre and four high-profile prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti, whom Hamas insisted upon.

The agreement included a 72-hour mechanism requiring Hamas to release all living hostages without public ceremonies. Former President Donald Trump, who backed the agreement, recalled a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the night of the signing. According to Trump, Netanyahu expressed disbelief, saying, "I can't believe it, everyone loves me now." Trump reportedly advised Netanyahu that it was more important for the world to love Israel again, adding, "I told him you can't fight the whole world, and he understood that very well."