Kushner Admits US Leveraged Qatar Attack Pressure for Hostage Deal

Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's advisor and son-in-law, revealed that the US administration exploited the diplomatic isolation and international outcry against Israel following an Israeli Air Force strike in Doha, Qatar, approximately a year ago. This pressure was used to compel Israel into agreeing to the recent hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza.

Kushner described the Israeli military operation in Doha as a "terrible thing" and a "failed military operation" that led to Israel's global isolation. He openly admitted that Washington recognized the diplomatic pressure generated by this action as an opportunity and directly leveraged it against Israeli decision-makers. "We used this dynamic to push them into a deal that today they are quite happy with," Kushner stated, adding that at the time, Israel was "a little uncomfortable with what we pushed them to do."

Kushner emphasized that this leverage was effective because of prior preparatory work. He suggested that the US pressure ultimately proved beneficial, leading to a new administration in Gaza, which he anticipates will take command after disarmament progresses.

The article recalls that Israeli forces targeted Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, during a meeting discussing a proposal from President Trump. Reports indicated that around 10 fighter jets carried out the strike approximately 1,800 kilometers from Israel, with over 10 munitions hitting their targets precisely. The operation was confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz as a fully independent Israeli initiative.

While Israel estimated that at least six senior Hamas officials were killed, foreign reports claimed that the organization's leaders survived, and mainly security personnel were killed in the attack. The operation in Qatar caused a significant political storm, leading Qatar to temporarily suspend its mediation role and generating substantial international pressure on Israel, which Kushner now admits Washington used as a direct lever to finalize the deal.