Gaza Diplomacy Advances
Kushner Holds Extensive Meeting with Netanyahu on Gaza Following Discussions with Hamas
Jared Kushner, the former U.S. envoy and President Trump's son-in-law, held an hourslong meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire, according to AP News. The meeting came just one day after Kushner sat down with Hamas, making him the rare figure talking directly to both sides of the conflict.
The talks come at a critical moment. Netanyahu had recently rejected a new ceasefire proposal, according to Daily Advance, leaving negotiations at a standstill as the war in Gaza continues.
Kushner Shuttles Between Netanyahu and Hamas in One Day
Kushner's back-to-back meetings are unusual in Middle East diplomacy. Talking to both Israel and Hamas within 24 hours signals an effort to keep some kind of dialogue alive. It is rare for a single envoy to sit with both sides so quickly. AP News confirmed the Netanyahu meeting lasted several hours, suggesting the two men went deep into the details of a possible deal.
Kushner is not a current U.S. government official. He served as a senior adviser during Trump's first term and helped broker the Abraham Accords in 2020. His return to the region suggests he may be working in an unofficial or back-channel capacity to help restart stalled ceasefire talks.
Netanyahu Rejected a Ceasefire Proposal Just Before the Meeting
According to Daily Advance, Netanyahu turned down a new ceasefire proposal before Kushner arrived. That rejection raised doubts about whether a deal could be reached. Netanyahu has faced pressure from far-right members of his coalition who oppose any agreement that leaves Hamas in power or ends the military campaign too soon.
The Gaza conflict has now stretched well past a year. A previous ceasefire agreement earlier in 2025 allowed for the release of some hostages held by Hamas. But those talks broke down, and fighting resumed. The gap between the two sides on key issues — including who governs Gaza after the war — remains wide.
Trump's Broader Middle East Push Runs on Multiple Tracks
The Kushner diplomacy is just one part of a wider Trump administration effort in the region. Separately, AP News reported that President Trump has pushed to break up combination vaccines like the MMR shot — which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella — into separate injections. An executive order directed that these vaccines be given one at a time rather than as a combined dose.
That vaccine order has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts, who say the MMR combination shot is safe and that splitting it up could discourage parents from getting all three vaccines for their children. The timing of the order, alongside the Gaza diplomacy, shows the wide range of issues the administration is managing simultaneously.
What a Gaza Deal Would Need to Look Like
Any ceasefire agreement would likely need to cover several major issues: the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas, a halt to Israeli military operations, and a plan for who controls Gaza once the fighting stops. These three issues have blocked progress for months. Neither side has shown it is ready to give ground on all three at once.
Kushner's meetings suggest someone is still trying to bridge that gap. Whether his talks produce a breakthrough or simply keep a back channel open remains to be seen. The next few days will show whether his shuttle diplomacy moves the needle or stalls like previous rounds of negotiation.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
5
Articles
5
Reach
5
