Kushner Meets Netanyahu in Israel to Push Gaza Plan

In mid-August 2026, Jared Kushner, an envoy for President Trump, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem for talks that stretched past three hours. The meeting came a day after Kushner held rare, direct talks with Hamas leaders, part of an effort to salvage a Gaza peace deal. Also present were Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, who joined the discussions with Netanyahu.

The talks are part of a broader push by the Trump administration to advance its Gaza plan. Kushner's meeting with Hamas was seen as unusual, given that the U.S. and Israel generally avoid direct contact with the group. The outcome of the discussions was not immediately clear, but the extended length of the meeting suggested that significant issues were on the table.