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Netanyahu and Kushner talks make no breakthrough on stalled Gaza deal
Talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy Jared Kushner on the Gaza ceasefire deal ended without progress, with Netanyahu insisting on Hamas's disarmament first. Hamas, meanwhile, demands an Israeli withdrawal from the 60% of Gaza it occupies.
A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Middle East envoy Jared Kushner on Monday ended without a breakthrough in the stalled Gaza ceasefire deal, according to an Israeli official who said Netanyahu made clear the military would not withdraw and would continue operations in Gaza.
The three-hour meeting, which also included Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov of Trump's Board of Peace, came after Netanyahu had forcefully rejected the US-backed 15-point roadmap a week earlier. The Israeli leader reiterated his position that there can be no progress on the ceasefire or an Israeli withdrawal until Hamas disarms first, and he requested that a US general supervise the group's handover of weapons.
A statement from Netanyahu's office described the meeting as "deep and constructive" and said it was agreed to establish two working groups on disarmament and demilitarisation. A Board of Peace official said the talks were "lengthy, in depth and very productive" and that the Israelis were going to "give this a chance."
Disarmament vs. withdrawal
The core disagreement centers on sequencing. Netanyahu insists on Hamas's disarmament before any Israeli withdrawal or reconstruction, while Hamas, which has said it agreed to the roadmap, demands that Israel first halt its attacks and withdraw to the "yellow line" dividing the territory—the 60% of Gaza that Israeli troops currently occupy.
On Sunday, Kushner met Hamas's political chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt, where Hamas insisted on Israel's withdrawal. A Hamas official said the group was committed and was waiting for mediators to start the 14-day negotiation period to establish a timetable.
According to reports, the US agreed that Israel could continue striking Gaza, which would apparently contradict Trump's earlier statement that it should not. Netanyahu's office said the meeting was "deep and constructive," but an Israeli official acknowledged the impasse.
Regional and domestic pressures
Analysts note that Trump has prioritized forcing progress in Gaza, with the US president likely dangling his endorsement in the upcoming Israeli election as an incentive for Netanyahu. However, opinion polls cited by Al Jazeera show that a majority of Israelis are split between opposing a peace deal and wanting to return, with only 17% favoring the status quo.
The meeting's timing was complicated by Netanyahu's political situation, with his electoral base skeptical of concessions. At the same time, regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement condemning Israel's rejection, saying that Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the peace efforts.
Wider regional context
Separately, the Jerusalem Post's commentary piece notes that the stalled Gaza talks are not the only regional issue facing the Trump administration. It references the June 2025 war against Iran's nuclear facilities and the absence of a plan to use early gains, as well as ongoing concerns about Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon and ambitions in Syria. The piece also argues that Israel is the only actor capable of enforcing any demilitarization agreement but is being sidelined.
Perspectives
Israeli government
Israel insists that any progress in the Gaza ceasefire depends on full disarmament of Hamas, and that Israel will maintain security control. The prime minister's office reported a constructive meeting with the Board of Peace.
Hamas
Hamas has agreed to the roadmap, including disarmament, but insists on Israel's withdrawal first. It urges mediators to compel Israel to sign on and to start the 14-day negotiation period.
Regional Arab states
Saudi Arabia and the UAE issued a joint statement saying that "Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza" and called for immediate measures.
US administration
US envoy Kushner described the meeting as "good meeting" but downplayed the Israeli rejection. Trump has dispatched his Board of Peace to pressure both sides, and reports indicate he is frustrated with Netanyahu's stance, with some analysts criticizing his approach of subcontracting diplomacy.
How each outlet told it
Al Jazeera
Framing: Headline asks why White House envoys cannot sway Israel's war leader, framing the issue as Netanyahu's political incentives; leaves out specifics of the peace plan. — Analytical and critical, with a tone of resignation: 'such initiatives... are unlikely to work' and 'OECD warnings can do little to dissuade.'
Facts Included:
Kushner met Netanyahu on Monday; focus was Trump's peace plan for Gaza, which Netanyahu rejected last week after Hamas accepted it.
Kushner claimed 'good meeting' but downplayed Israeli rejection in Fox News interview.
Netanyahu insists Hamas has to disarm first before Israel fulfils commitments; holds same position on Lebanon.
Netanyahu's goal is to delay negotiations and closing any deal because he does not gain politically from ending wars.
Maintaining 'Mr Security' image before October elections is important.
Opinion polls: 45% of Israelis oppose a peace deal for Gaza, 37% want return to fighting, 17% want status quo; two-thirds want occupation of southern Lebanon to continue; nearly half want major military action against Iran.
Netanyahu is seen as the only one with experience to face a hostile world.
Many Israelis believe the world wants destruction of Israel; anyone not 'stand with Israel' is enemy.
Netanyahu credited with knowledge of American politics; allowed Israeli public to see Trump not to be trusted.
Israel considered to have lost the US as a significant partner is irrelevant to Netanyahu's image.
Undermining progress allows Netanyahu to shape his criminal trial, request recesses for 'important political meetings'.
Conflict has been beneficial for business, especially defence companies; Israeli stock exchange record highs, shekel appreciated; projected growth for 2027 is 5.6%.
OECD report in June predicted 'large fiscal costs' if intense military activity returns.
OECD warnings cannot dissuade a prime minister who has hedged political survival on war.
Framing: Headline states the meeting made 'no breakthrough' on the stalled deal, focusing on the impasse; leaves out the broader regional context. — Measured and factual, with a slightly skeptical tone: 'the timing... was not auspicious' and 'a sequence representing a long-term impasse.'
Facts Included:
Netanyahu told Kushner there can be no progress on Gaza ceasefire deal or Israeli withdrawal until Hamas disarms.
An Israeli official said there was no breakthrough in the meeting.
On Sunday, Kushner met Hamas's political chief in Egypt, where Hamas insisted Israel must first withdraw from 60% of Gaza.
Monday's three-hour meeting included Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov.
Netanyahu rejected the US-backed 15-point roadmap a week earlier.
Netanyahu requested that a US general supervise the weapons handover.
Statement from Netanyahu's office: 'deep and constructive discussions' and two working groups on disarmament and demilitarisation.
Board of Peace official said meeting was 'lengthy, in depth and very productive'.
The meeting's timing was not auspicious due to Netanyahu's poll struggles ahead of elections.
Haaretz reported US agreed Israel could continue striking Gaza, contradicting Trump's earlier statement.
Hamas says it has agreed to the roadmap, which includes disarmament, but urges mediators to compel Israel to sign on.
Officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey were present.
Israeli troops occupy about 60% of the strip; Netanyahu threatened to take over more.
Kushner met Hamas's political chief Khalil al-Hayya a day earlier.
Hamas official said group was committed and waiting for mediators to start 14-day negotiation period.
Hamas demanded Israel halt attacks and withdraw to 'yellow line'.
Israeli media reports Trump frustrated with Netanyahu.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported Kushner expected to bring list of measures including halt to attacks, military withdrawal, and increase in humanitarian aid.
Analysts criticized Trump's subcontracting to amateur envoys.
2 million people in Gaza; more than 10 months since ceasefire ended major operations.
Meeting in Egypt last year helped clinch ceasefire.
Regional powers including Saudi Arabia and UAE issued joint statement condemning Israel's rejection, saying 'Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.'
Foreign ministers' statement called on Board of Peace and US to take 'immediate and concrete measures'.
In May, Netanyahu said next step was to move to 70% control of Gaza.
Gaza health ministry: Israel killed more than 1,200 Palestinians and wounded more than 4,100 since ceasefire on 10 October 2025.
Framing: Headline emphasizes Trump's 'desperate search for a Middle East victory' and frames his approach as confusing tactics with strategy; leaves out specific details of the Gaza meeting. — Critical and analytical, with a sense of urgency: 'victory remains elusive' and 'Pyrrhic Middle East victories can generate short-term political headlines.'
Facts Included:
Trump sent Board of Peace representatives Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, and Nikolai Mladenov to pressure Netanyahu to begin withdrawing from Gaza before Hamas disarms and to stop attacking Hamas.
Trump is likely dangling his endorsement in the upcoming Israeli election as a carrot.
Israel will be strong-armed to allow Qatar and Turkey to help verify the agreement, despite their history as Hamas supporters.
Operation Midnight Hammer (Rising Lion) in June 2025 degraded Iran's nuclear program at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, including use of 30,000-pound bunker-buster ordnance.
In December 2025, Netanyahu received Trump's blessing for Israel to act unilaterally against Iran's ballistic missile production.
Trump believed Iranian protests signaled the regime was on its last legs, and new Israeli intelligence indicated leadership would be gathered in one location.
Trump's decision to decapitate Iran's leadership, according to the president's own public account.
Iran slaughtered upward of 50,000 protesters within 72 hours and continues killing its own people.
Trump administration had no Plan B after seven weeks of fighting in March and April.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and diverted Trump's attention from nuclear program and missiles.
Comparison to Operation Earnest Will and Operation Praying Mantis during the Tanker War of the 1980s.
Trump deserves credit for securing Israeli hostage releases and allowing Israel to retain control of more than 60% of Gaza.
Current agreement offers Hamas fighters amnesty; verifying demilitarization could take a decade.
Israel is the only actor capable of enforcing demilitarization but is being sidelined.
Hezbollah remains Lebanon's most powerful military force and has infiltrated the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
LAF is taking control of pilot zones from IDF, but Alma Research and Education Center says Hezbollah's civilian organizations are entering those areas.
Syria is Trump's best opportunity, but Erdogan wants Syria as a Turkish vassal state.
Saudi Arabia is increasingly aligning with Islamist powers such as Pakistan and Turkey.
China is watching to see whether America will defend freedom of navigation.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimUS President Donald Trump sent Board of Peace representatives Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, and Nikolai Mladenov to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing from Gaza before Hamas disarms and to stop attacking Hamas.
ClaimAn Israeli official said there was no breakthrough in the meeting between Netanyahu and Kushner, with Netanyahu making clear the IDF would not withdraw and would continue operations in Gaza.
ClaimOn Sunday, Kushner met Hamas's political chief in Egypt, where Hamas insisted Israel must first withdraw from the 60% of Gaza that Israel occupies.
ClaimA statement from Netanyahu's office said the meeting was deep and constructive and agreed to establish two working groups on disarmament and demilitarisation.
ClaimThe meeting between Netanyahu and Kushner was not auspicious because Netanyahu is struggling in the polls ahead of national elections later this year.
ClaimAccording to Haaretz, the meeting ended with the US agreeing that Israel could continue striking Gaza, apparently contradicting a statement from Trump earlier that Israel should not be striking in Gaza.
ClaimKushner met Hamas's political chief Khalil al-Hayya a day earlier, according to a regional official and a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
ClaimThe Hamas official said the group was committed and waiting for mediators to start the 14-day negotiation period to work out a timetable for implementation.
ClaimHamas demanded that Israel halt its attacks on Gaza and withdraw to the so-called 'yellow line' dividing the territory before beginning implementation.
ClaimYedioth Ahronoth reported that Kushner was expected to bring a list of measures including a halt to Israeli attacks in Gaza, advancing military withdrawal, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid.
ClaimAnalysts have noted that Trump's subcontracting of critical US negotiations to amateur friends, associates, and family members is undermining Washington's diplomatic heft.
ClaimAbout 2 million people live in Gaza, and reconstruction of the territory is at stake since the ceasefire ended major operations more than 10 months ago.
ClaimSeveral regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement saying: 'Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.'
ClaimThe foreign ministers' statement called on the Board of Peace and the US to take 'immediate and concrete measures' to prevent any party from obstructing the plan's implementation.
ClaimIsrael has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded more than 4,100 since agreeing to the ceasefire on 10 October 2025, according to Gaza's health ministry.
ClaimIsrael will be strong-armed to allow Hamas supporters Qatar and Turkey to help verify the agreement, despite their history as Hamas's financial and diplomatic supporters.
ClaimOperation Midnight Hammer (Operation Rising Lion) in June 2025 degraded Iran's nuclear program at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, including the use of 30,000-pound bunker-buster ordnance.
ClaimIn December 2025, Netanyahu was at Mar-a-Lago and received Trump's blessing for Israel to act unilaterally against Iran's ballistic missile production.
ClaimTrump believed that Iranian protests signaled the regime was on its last legs, and new Israeli intelligence indicated that Iran's supreme leader and much of the political and military leadership would be gathered in one place.
ClaimClosing the Strait of Hormuz proved enormously effective and diverted Trump's attention away from Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles, terrorist proxies, and support for the Iranian people.
ClaimThe Lebanese Armed Forces are taking control of pilot zones from the IDF, but the Alma Research and Education Center says Hezbollah's civilian organizations are already entering those areas.
ClaimUndermining any progress towards ending conflicts is important for Netanyahu because it allows him to shape his criminal trial, for example by requesting recess.
ClaimConflict has been beneficial for business, especially defence companies, with the Israeli stock exchange seeing record highs and the shekel strengthening.