Kushner says Qatar strike fallout pushed Gaza deal; Israel rejects account
21 sourcesUpdated Sep 14, 2026
On September 9, 2025, Israel struck Hamas leaders in Doha. Targeted leaders survived after moving to another building shortly before, per a Hamas investigation; a Qatari security officer and several lower-ranking Hamas members and bodyguards were killed. The strike drew condemnation from Doha and the UN Security Council; Netanyahu apologized to Qatar and pledged not to violate its territory again. Speaking remotely with Victor Pinchuk at the YES Annual Meeting 2026, Jared Kushner called the strike a terrible thing and unsuccessful as a military operation that left Israel globally isolated. He said the Trump administration used that dynamic to push Israel into a Gaza deal releasing 48 hostages—a deal Israel initially found uncomfortable but now views positively. Kushner said it also benefited Gazans via a new governing authority set to take over after demilitarization. The 20-point plan he brokered with Steve Witkoff has stalled short of completion. Likud rejected Kushner's account, stating Netanyahu's Gaza City offensive, the Doha strike, and intense Trump pressure led Hamas to drop demands and free the hostages. Israeli officials speaking to i24NEWS said the strike showed Hamas had no immunity. Separately, Netanyahu posted Rosh Hashanah wishes to Trump citing historic progress, and visited the Lebanon border where weapons from a disarmed Hezbollah tunnel network were displayed.
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Left· 3 sources
“US used Israel's 'global isolation' caused by Doha strike to push Gaza deal, Kushner says”Center· 1 source
“Kushner Calls Israel’s Doha Strike ‘Terrible,’ Says US Used Fallout to Push Gaza Deal”Right· 8 sources
Hamas leaders surviving the hit makes it hard to see the strike as the main driver behind the ceasefire.
Israel has every reason to reject Kushner's claim when their own version credits the attack with real hostage progress.
The strike missed its targets yet still forced a deal, showing how isolation can outweigh battlefield results.
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