Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Kushner’s Gaza Talks End Without Breakthrough Between Israel and Hamas
Jared Kushner tried to restart a plan to end the war in Gaza.
He met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after meeting Hamas representatives in Egypt.
The meetings ended without a final agreement.
Israel says Hamas must give up all its weapons before Israeli troops leave or Gaza is rebuilt.
Hamas says Israel must first stop attacks and withdraw its troops.
The two sides disagree about which steps should happen first.
Kushner said some progress might begin within 30 days.
He also said removing weapons and filling tunnels could take 60 to 90 days.
The United States and Israel agreed to form groups to discuss disarmament and public health needs.
Jared Kushner held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas representatives over Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
The discussions ended without agreement, with Israel insisting Hamas be fully disarmed before any troop withdrawal or reconstruction.
Hamas said implementation depends on Israel halting attacks and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
Kushner said progress could begin within 30 days, with weapons removal and tunnel-filling potentially taking 60 to 90 days.
Israel and the United States agreed to create working groups on disarmament and sanitation, clean water and public health.
- Who
- U.S. envoy Jared Kushner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas representatives and Gaza envoy Nickolay Mladenov.
- What
- They held talks on a stalled U.S. plan to end the Gaza war, but reached no breakthrough.
- When
- Kushner met Hamas representatives on Sunday and Netanyahu on Monday, August 17.
- Where
- The talks took place in Egypt and Jerusalem, concerning the situation in Gaza.
- Why
- The discussions sought to revive Donald Trump’s plan involving Hamas disarmament, an Israeli military withdrawal and Gaza reconstruction.
Hamas and Plan Supporters
Israeli Government
Order of implementation
Hamas and Plan Supporters
Hamas says Israel must first adhere to the ceasefire and withdraw its forces before the plan can be implemented.
Israeli Government
Israel insists Hamas must be fully disarmed before Israeli troops withdraw.
Military activity
Hamas and Plan Supporters
Hamas agreed to the roadmap, according to the article, but conditions implementation on Israel meeting its commitments, including halting attacks.
Israeli Government
Israel says its military will continue operating as necessary, including targeting Palestinian militants involved in the October 7, 2023, attack.
Gaza reconstruction
Hamas and Plan Supporters
U.S. and Israeli officials have discussed reconstruction in areas under Israeli control or under a new Palestinian technocratic government.
Israeli Government
Netanyahu and Kushner agreed that reconstruction should not begin until Hamas is disarmed, because Israel says rebuilding before demilitarization could enable renewed violence.
- U.S. plan
- A 15-point roadmap proposes phased Hamas disarmament as Israel withdraws from Gaza.
- Israel’s position
- Israel says it will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed and will continue military operations as it considers necessary.
- Hamas’s position
- Hamas says implementation depends on Israel halting attacks and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
- Reconstruction condition
- Netanyahu and Kushner agreed that Gaza reconstruction would not begin until Hamas is disarmed.
- Possible timeline
- Kushner said weapons removal could start within 30 days and tunnel-filling could take 60 to 90 days.
- Working groups
- The sides agreed to establish groups focused on disarmament and sanitation, clean water and public health.
- Political context
- Netanyahu is facing an October 27 national election, and the article says diplomats expect few Gaza concessions before the vote.