Netanyahu Credits Military Action, Trump Pressure for Hostage Release

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected claims by former White House advisor Jared Kushner that the U.S. administration leveraged international pressure on Israel following an attack in Doha, Qatar, to force a hostage deal. Netanyahu asserted that the release of all remaining hostages was achieved through Israel's "operational determination on the ground combined with President Trump's pressure."

Kushner, speaking in Ukraine, had stated that the U.S. government exploited the diplomatic isolation Israel faced after an Israeli military operation in Doha approximately a year ago to compel a hostage agreement. He suggested this pressure was instrumental in bringing Hamas to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu's office responded by emphasizing that the decision to send the IDF into Gaza and target Hamas leaders in Qatar, coupled with significant pressure from then-President Trump, led Hamas to abandon its demands and agree to release all remaining hostages. This statement directly contradicts Kushner's account.

The article also references a targeted strike against Hamas leadership in Doha, which occurred while top Hamas officials were reportedly discussing a proposal from President Trump. At the time, Israeli security officials stressed that the operation was a fully independent Israeli action, approved by the political leadership in response to a wave of attacks, despite causing international tension and temporarily halting Qatari mediation.