Netanyahu and Kushner Agree on Hamas Disarmament Preconditions for Gaza Reconstruction

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, held a lengthy meeting on August 17, 2026, following Kushner's unusual talks with senior Hamas officials in Egypt. According to a senior Israeli official, the discussions resulted in several key understandings despite significant differences regarding the peace council. The American side approached the talks moderately, establishing clear boundaries for the conversation.

The main agreement was that no reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip will proceed without the complete disarmament of Hamas. The first step toward demilitarizing Gaza involves Hamas handing over all weapons for destruction under the supervision of General Jeffery. Both Israel and the U.S. concur on a genuine disarmament process covering both heavy and light arms.

Further agreements included preserving the Israel Defense Forces' freedom of action and continuing targeted killings of terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will not withdraw from the "yellow line" if security conditions do not permit it. Additionally, there was consent to conduct sanitation operations in Gaza to prevent disease outbreaks.

However, a notable gap remains: Israel officially doubts Hamas will fully disarm, while the Americans believe it is possible. Kushner reiterated that reconstruction should not begin before Gaza is demilitarized. Israeli officials presented evidence to Kushner about the lack of real disarmament progress and highlighted Turkish funding of Hamas.

The day before, Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt alongside Nikolay Mladenov, head of the peace council, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. These talks occurred amid pressure from the White House and the Trump peace council on both Hamas and Israel to advance the 20-point American peace plan for Gaza.