JERUSALEM — Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to establish working groups on Gaza disarmament and humanitarian needs following talks with Hamas and Israeli leaders. The agreement comes despite mutual preconditions regarding withdrawal and disarmament, as well as ongoing violence in the region.

Kushner serves as a special diplomatic envoy in the second Trump administration. He traveled to Egypt to meet with leaders of Hamas, accompanied by Tony Blair, who is a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. After meeting with Hamas leaders, Kushner traveled to Jerusalem to meet with Netanyahu. Earlier in the trip, on August 17, 2026, Kushner met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.

The Israeli prime minister's office confirmed that the meeting between Netanyahu and Kushner resulted in the agreement to establish two working groups. One group will focus on the disarmament and demilitarisation of Gaza, while the other will address sanitation, clean water and other public health issues for the people of Gaza which also impact the people of Israel. The Israeli prime minister's office stated that Israel and the U.S.-led Board of Peace will launch these working groups to address key issues in the board’s plan for disarming Hamas and reconstructing the enclave, with the goal of completing the disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza before any reconstruction happens.

Kushner and Netanyahu agreed that the IDF would not redeploy from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. They also agreed to immediately establish joint working groups on the demilitarization of Gaza and the basic needs of the Palestinian enclave including clean water. During their meeting, Kushner asked Netanyahu to draw down attacks on Gaza.

Netanyahu stated Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms. Hamas leaders stated they will not disarm unless Israel withdraws from Gaza. These conflicting positions remain central to the negotiations.

Violence continued despite the diplomatic efforts. Israel struck a seaside cafe in Gaza City one day after the meeting between Kushner and Netanyahu. Seven people were killed in the strike.

An Israeli strike on a police station in Gaza City killed nine people, including a child, according to Gaza health officials. Since the ceasefire began in October, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,273 people, according to health officials in Gaza. The nearly three-year Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 73,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Kushner gave an interview regarding the impasse in Gaza negotiations. "If they don’t follow through now on their commitment, everyone will see that they’re not genuine about peace, and then Israel will have a lot more support from the U.S. and others to go and finish the job," Kushner said. Eliot Abrams, a former U.S. ambassador, accused Kushner of legitimizing a terrorist organization by meeting with Hamas leaders.

Kushner orchestrated the Abraham Accords during the first Trump administration. The Abraham Accords normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. Steve Witkoff serves as a special diplomatic envoy in the second Trump administration alongside Kushner. Kushner graduated from Harvard University and New York University.

Why It Matters

The establishment of working groups represents a structured approach to addressing the complex issues of disarmament and humanitarian needs in Gaza. The agreement outlines specific areas of focus, including demilitarization and public health infrastructure, while maintaining the precondition that disarmament must precede reconstruction. This framework attempts to navigate the stalemate where both sides demand concessions from the other before proceeding.

The continuation of lethal strikes alongside high-level diplomatic talks shows the fragility of the situation. Casualty figures remain high, with thousands killed since the ceasefire began and tens of thousands over the course of the nearly three-year conflict. The divergent statements from Israeli and Hamas leadership underscore the obstacles that remain for any lasting resolution, even as new mechanisms for dialogue are put in place.