Kushner-Netanyahu Talks End Without Breakthrough on Gaza

High-level discussions between Jared Kushner and Israeli…

High-level discussions between Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded without a final agreement on Gaza, though the two explored a novel security framework that would place a U.S. general in charge of overseeing Hamas's demilitarization.

Sources familiar with the meeting said the proposal would keep Israeli forces deployed across the enclave until the American-led verification process is fully complete. Under the plan, a senior U.S. military officer would lead a team tasked with confirming the disarmament of Hamas fighters and the removal of heavy weaponry from civilian areas.

The talks, which stretched over several hours, focused primarily on sequencing: when verification would begin, how long it might take, and what triggers would allow Israeli troops to withdraw. One sticking point remained whether Hamas would accept any outside authority inspecting its arsenal, given its previous refusals to allow international monitors into its strongholds.

Israeli officials have insisted that any ceasefire must

Israeli officials have insisted that any ceasefire must include tangible, verifiable steps toward disarmament, not just verbal commitments. They argue that leaving the military in place until a U.S.-led inspection regime is operational would prevent a power vacuum that could allow Hamas to regroup.

Palestinian representatives, meanwhile, have privately expressed skepticism about the plan, noting that a U.S. general would effectively answer to Israeli security demands. They have called for a more neutral international mechanism, while also demanding a clear timeline for a full Israeli withdrawal.

Despite the lack of a deal, both sides described the conversation as constructive and agreed to continue technical-level talks in the coming days. No date has been set for a follow-up summit, but diplomats say the window for a negotiated settlement remains open, though narrowing. The core challenge remains bridging the gap between Israel's demand for durable security guarantees and Palestinian insistence on immediate relief and a credible path to self-governance.