Axios: Israel’s attack on Qatar paved the way for Trump’s Gaza plan.
Axios reported Wednesday that the Israeli attack had united Arab leaders against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and intensified calls in Israeli society for a deal to free the remaining prisoners and end the war.
Four sources familiar with the matter told Axios that Trump advisers Steve Whitaker and Jared Kushner, who were initially outraged by the attack and the potential instability it would cause, soon saw the crisis as an opportunity to end the war.
After receiving the green light from Trump, Whitaker and Kushner began working on a plan to end the Qatar crisis and turn it into a larger deal to end the war in Gaza.
They combined an existing U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange with a plan Kushner had worked out with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the future of Gaza. The result was a 21-point document.
A few days before the UN General Assembly, the Qataris proposed a meeting in New York between Trump and the leaders of eight Arab and Muslim countries to discuss Israel’s attack on Qatar and the war in Gaza.
During the October 2018 meeting, Arab and Muslim leaders criticized the Israeli regime. After emphasizing his desire to end the war in Gaza, Trump turned to Witkoff and said, “Steve, tell them what you’ve been working on.”
Witkoff briefed the group on the 21-point plan, which was met with a positive response from the audience. Trump then asked the group to meet with Witkoff the next day to present their views.
By the evening of October 2018, the United States and the eight countries had reached a preliminary agreement on the text, which Witkoff and Kushner sent to the Israelis.