Kushner: Israel's Gaza Deal Driven by Doha Attack Failure

Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, revealed that the U.S. leveraged Israel's international isolation following a "failed" military strike in Doha, Qatar, to pressure Jerusalem into accepting a ceasefire agreement for Gaza. Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy conference, Kushner described the September 2025 Israeli airstrike on a Hamas leadership meeting in Doha as "terrible" and militarily unsuccessful, which led to Israel's global isolation.

Kushner stated that this dynamic was exploited to push Israel toward the deal, which he acknowledged caused discomfort at the time but is now viewed positively by Israel. The strike, which occurred on September 9, 2025, targeted a building where top Hamas officials were discussing an American ceasefire proposal. While senior Hamas figures survived, security personnel were killed. A month later, on October 9, an agreement was reached, leading to the release of 48 hostages, both living and deceased.

Kushner further asserted that the agreement proved beneficial for both Israel and Gaza's residents, as a new governing body is expected to take control soon, contingent on the demilitarization of the Strip. He also commented on the ongoing Israeli elections, suggesting they are hindering the implementation of American plans for Gaza's future. Kushner noted that while there is agreement on the desired end state for Gaza, Israeli political complexities make them "a little irrational."

Earlier in August, Kushner met in Egypt with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and Mohammed Dahlan to advance the Trump administration's roadmap. Hamas announced its agreement to the second phase of this roadmap, which includes Israeli withdrawal, increased aid, and the commencement of reconstruction efforts for Gaza.