Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner discussed brokering a fragile deal between Israel and Hamas and rejected allegations that Israeli forces had committed genocide in Gaza during an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday.
Kushner told CBS’ Lesley Stahl that he asked an Israeli soldier where the Palestinians he saw were going.
Yes, but: Both Kushner and Witkoff both firmly rejected allegations that the Israeli military has committed genocide in Gaza.
But Steve nor I will be involved in awarding contracts or figuring out who does business in Gaza after.”
More from Axios: U.S. scrambles to save Gaza peace deal amid new clashes Vance plans Israel visit Tuesday to push Gaza deal implementation Scoop: Tony Blair and Jared Kushner brief Trump on Gaza post-war plans Scoop: Direct meeting between Trump envoys and Hamas leaders sealed Gaza deal
In an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner denied claims that Israeli forces conducted genocide in Gaza and talked about negotiating a precarious agreement between Israel and Hamas….
Big picture: The extensive interview with President Trump’s envoys, which coincides with new clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, also touched on Kushner and Witkoff’s possible conflicts of interest due to worries about their business dealings with Gulf states and Qatar’s pivotal role in the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
What they’re saying:.
Following the ceasefire, Kushner said that his visit to Gaza “looked almost like a nuclear bomb had been set off.”. “,”.
Kushner told Lesley Stahl of CBS that he saw Palestinians and asked an Israeli soldier where they were going.
“I’m glancing about. None of these are intact. “Well,” they said, “they’re going to return to their plot and set up a tent in the locations where their destroyed home was.”. And it’s really depressing, because you realize that they truly have nowhere else to go,” he remarked.
Yes, but: Kushner and Witkoff both outspokenly denied claims that the Israeli military has carried out genocide in Gaza.
“Definitely not,” Witkoff replied. There was a war going on, no doubt about it. “.”.
The lines between their business dealings with Gulf states and their activities “in terms of foreign policy and benefiting financially” from the Middle East seem to be blurred, according to Stahl’s observations regarding conflicts of interest claims.
Kushner claimed that no one had brought up any instances in which he or Witkoff had “pursued any policies or done anything that have not been in the interest” of the United States. S. Stahl inquired about the impression it created.
Kushner stated, “We have to focus on the facts and not spend as much time on perception.”. “Our goal is to do good. These are not feasible tasks.
And because of how important this is, I’ve offered my time to assist Steve and the president in trying to move things along. After that, however, neither Steve nor I will be involved in contract awards or determining who conducts business in Gaza. “.
In response to Witkoff’s statement that he is “not in business anymore,” Stahl pointed out that his family is.
“However, I’ve sold off. Like Jared, I don’t get paid and cover all of my own costs,” Witkoff stated.
Stahl insisted that the issue had grown to be one, and Kushner responded, “What people refer to as conflicts of interest, Steve and I refer to as our global experience and trusted relationships.
“The agreement that we were able to assist in completing, which resulted in the release of these hostages, would not have happened if Steve and I had not developed these close relationships. “,”.
Axios has more to say.
U. S. is rushing to save the peace agreement in Gaza amidst fresh conflicts.
Tuesday, Vance arranges an Israel visit to promote the implementation of the Gaza deal.
Trump is briefed by Jared Kushner and Tony Blair on post-war plans for Gaza.
Scoop: A direct meeting between Hamas leaders and Trump envoys successfully closed the Gaza deal.
