Kushner urges Netanyahu to test Hamas disarmament in Gaza – Axios
President Trump adviser Jared Kushner told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday that the U.S. wants Israel to take “small steps” in Gaza to test whether Hamas is genuinely committed to disarming, Axios reports, citing a U.S. official.
The four-hour meeting came amid Netanyahu’s deep skepticism of the U.S. Gaza plan and ahead of an October election, making him reluctant to offer major concessions. The meeting clarified misunderstandings and addressed some concerns, but also highlighted remaining differences and the difficulty of near-term progress.
Kushner arrived after meeting Sunday in Egypt with Hamas leaders and Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators. His delegation included Gaza Board of Peace High Representative Nikolay Mladenov, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior advisers Aryeh Lightstone and Liran Tancman.
Netanyahu questioned Hamas’ commitment to demilitarization and why Kushner met its leaders. Kushner said he wanted to hear directly whether they would move forward, noting that his and Steve Witkoff’s last meeting with Hamas preceded the release of the remaining Oct. 7 hostages.
Netanyahu showed Kushner polls indicating most Israelis oppose rebuilding Gaza before demilitarization and want strikes to continue against imminent threats. Kushner said the U.S. does not expect Israel to refrain from responding to such threats, and that reconstruction would begin only after demilitarization.
Israeli military intelligence and Shin Bet chiefs also briefed Kushner’s team on Hamas violations.
Under the plan, Hamas would hand weapons to a Palestinian technocratic government, which would transfer them to an International Stabilization Force for destruction.
While the meeting took place, Trump told Fox News he wants Israel to stop airstrikes in Gaza. A Board of Peace official said he meant strikes not targeting imminent threats. Defining an imminent threat remains a key disagreement.
Kushner and Netanyahu agreed to create a Gaza “deconfliction” mechanism, involving Egyptian mediators, to monitor violations, raise emerging threats with Hamas and prevent escalation. Netanyahu also committed to improving Gaza’s humanitarian situation, particularly water and sanitation.
They agreed to two working groups, one on demilitarization and one on humanitarian issues. Netanyahu’s office said demilitarization must be completed before reconstruction.
A Board of Peace official called the meeting “lengthy, in depth, and very productive,” saying Israel would give the plan a chance and that Hamas must now show whether it intends to comply.
