Kushner urges Netanyahu to test Hamas disarmament in Gaza

President Trump adviser Jared Kushner told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that the U.S. wants Israel to take "small steps" in Gaza to test whether Hamas' commitment to start disarming is genuine, a U.S. official said.

Why it matters: The four-hour meeting took place amid deep skepticism from Netanyahu about the U.S. plan for Gaza — and ahead of an October election that makes the Israeli leader reluctant to offer significant concessions on the politically sensitive issue.

While the meeting helped clarify misunderstandings, addressed some of Netanyahu's concerns and produced a joint understanding on how to move forward, it also crystallized the remaining differences and made clear how difficult near-term progress will be.

Driving the news: Kushner arrived in Israel after meetings in Egypt Sunday with Hamas leaders and with the Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators.

Kushner brought a delegation to the meeting with Netanyahu that included the High Representative of Trump's Gaza Board of Peace, Nikolay Mladenov, as well as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Board of Peace senior advisers Aryeh Lightstone and Liran Tancman.

During the meeting, Netanyahu expressed deep skepticism about Hamas' commitment to demilitarize and asked Kushner why he met with its leaders in Egypt on Sunday.

Kushner told Netanyahu it was important to hear from them directly on whether they're willing to move forward with demilitarization, a U.S. official said.

"The last time Steve Witkoff and I met with Hamas leaders, it led to the release of all the hostages," Kushner told Netanyahu, according to a U.S. official.

He was referring to the release last year of the remaining hostages taken in the Oct.

7, 2023 attacks.

The big picture: A U.S. official and another source with knowledge of the meeting said the political atmosphere in Israel ahead of the October election has created significant suspicion on the Israeli side — particularly as the Israeli opposition has attacked Netanyahu for making concessions in Gaza.

Much of the meeting focused on explaining the Board of Peace plan, clarifying misconceptions and addressing Netanyahu's concerns, the U.S. official and the second source said.

During the meeting, Netanyahu showed Kushner two public opinion polls.

One showed that a majority of Israelis object to the reconstruction of Gaza before the enclave is demilitarized.