Kushner Holds Hours-Long Meeting With Netanyahu; Board of Peace Cites 'Path Forward', Vows No Reconstruction Until Disarmament

Jared Kushner held an hours-long meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel on August 17, 2026, a day after his talks with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt, as the US pressed for Israeli sign-off on the 15-point Gaza roadmap Hamas had already accepted. A Board of Peace official described the meeting as 'lengthy, in depth, and very productive,' saying agreement was reached with Netanyahu on a 'path forward,' including plans to organize working groups on Gaza demilitarization and humanitarian needs — while the IDF would continue conducting targeted strikes in the interim. Kushner separately declared: 'We will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarisation occurs,' framing Hamas disarmament as a security gain for Israel and warning that failure to comply would justify intensified Israeli operations. Al Jazeera characterized the talks as failing to produce a breakthrough on implementing the roadmap. Gaza's Health Ministry put the toll since the war began at 73,399 killed and 174,310 wounded, with 1,265 killed since the October 2025 ceasefire.