The Dealmakers | Sunday on 60 Minutes

President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy team, comprised of seasoned dealmakers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, recently opened up about their unorthodox strategy behind the Israel-Hamas peace accord in an exclusive interview with Lesley Stahl.

Kushner, a key figure in Trump's administration, revealed that he and his co-conspirator had long harbored deep-seated doubts about the traditional approach to negotiating Middle East conflicts. "We didn't want to be beholden to conventional wisdom," Kushner said candidly. The result was an unapologetically unconventional strategy aimed at brokering a lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

According to Witkoff, this marked a deliberate departure from the usual tactics employed by diplomats in the region. "We didn't just want to sit around the negotiating table; we wanted to get out of it," he quipped, underscoring their willingness to challenge traditional norms.

Their approach involved forging unprecedented relationships with key figures on both sides of the conflict, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This interpersonal rapport was seen as a crucial factor in bridging the gap between Israel's hawkish lobby and Hamas's Islamist ideology.

Critics have questioned the deal's validity, citing concerns over its lack of transparency and potential shortcomings on key issues such as Jerusalem's status and refugees' rights. However, Kushner and Witkoff maintained that their unorthodox strategy was a deliberate response to a long-stale diplomatic stalemate.

"We didn't want to be part of the problem; we wanted to be part of the solution," Kushner stated unequivocally. Their willingness to push boundaries has sparked debate among observers about the future of Middle East peace efforts, leaving many to wonder if their approach will prove sustainable in the face of mounting challenges.

idk how much i trust these 2 guys. they're just trying to make themselves sound cool for getting a deal done . it sounds like they took a bunch of random ideas and mashed them together without really thinking about the consequences. and now everyone's all "oh, look at us, we got a peace accord!" but what about the real problems that need solving? did they even consider the long-term effects or just winged it and hoped for the best ?

I'm so worried about this Israel-Hamas deal... it feels like they're just making things up as they go along . How can we be sure that there's no more harm coming down the pipe? I mean, Kushner and Witkoff are saying all these great things, but what if their "unconventional strategy" is just a fancy way of saying they're not paying attention to the little people on the ground?

I'm also thinking about Ismail Haniyeh and Benjamin Netanyahu - how did they even become close friends with each other? It's like, what about all the trauma and pain that these two leaders have caused for so many innocent people? Can we really just forget about that because Kushner and Witkoff say it's okay now?

And what about the fact-checking? Like, how can we trust that this deal is actually going to solve anything if we don't know all the details? It feels like they're just giving us a bunch of vague promises and hoping for the best.

I gotta say, these two guys took a wild risk by ditching traditional diplomacy . I mean, who wants to get out of the negotiating table? But seriously, it's interesting to see how they were able to build relationships with people on both sides and make them work. The key is being genuine and building trust, you know?

idk why ppl r so skeptical about this deal ... Kushner & Witkoff did something different, and thats a good thing! they went out of their way 2 build relationships with key figures on both sides, and that took guts it's not always easy 2 navigate these complex conflicts, but I think their approach was worth a shot plus, who says u gotta sit around the negotiating table 2 get stuff done? Kushner & Witkoff proved that sometimes, u just need 2 take action and push boundaries.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole Israel-Hamas thing... Kushner and Witkoff's strategy sounds like a total gamble to me . Like, you can't just go around forging relationships with key figures on both sides without knowing what the hell is going on. It's not like they're gonna be able to just magically solve all these deep-seated issues overnight . And what about the lobby stuff? How do they plan on bridging that gap?

I'm also kinda confused by their whole "not wanting to be part of the problem" vibe... don't they think they're, like, perpetuating the same old system or something? It sounds like a bunch of spin to me . And what about all these concerns over transparency and refugees' rights? Are those just gonna get swept under the rug or what?

I'm like totally convinced that Trump's whole deal with Israel and Hamas was a total disaster . I mean, come on, Kushner and Witkoff think they're so clever for not playing by the usual rules, but honestly, it just seems like they were winging it and hoping for the best . And don't even get me started on those relationships with key figures - I'm pretty sure it's a total recipe for disaster . The fact that they think their approach is gonna be part of the solution when everyone else thinks it's a joke is just, like, so not realistic .

You know what's crazy? People always think that doing things differently is weird or wrong. But sometimes, it takes a fresh perspective and a willingness to challenge norms to actually find a solution . Kushner and Witkoff's unorthodox approach might have raised some eyebrows, but it's great to see them thinking outside the box and trying something new. It just goes to show that conventional wisdom isn't always the best way forward . We can learn from their willingness to take risks and try a different path – sometimes that's exactly what we need!

I gotta say, this whole Israel-Hamas thing is just too complicated for me. Like, Kushner and Witkoff's strategy might work on paper but have they actually thought through the consequences? The lack of transparency is a major red flag . And what about all those refugees still stuck in limbo? It's easy to promise change but where's the beef?

I'm also kinda skeptical about this "interpersonal rapport" thingy. Sounds like just a fancy way of saying they're playing people against each other . Can we trust that these relationships won't crumble under pressure? I don't know, man...

lol just what we need more 'unconventional' approaches to solving world problems Kushner and Witkoff think they're some kinda superhero duo with a magic wand that makes conflicts disappear Newsflash: it's not rocket science, guys! A bit of transparency wouldn't hurt either and btw, Jerusalem's status is NOT up for grabs

They're saying they didn't wanna play by the rules, but I'm not sure that's a good thing... I mean, who needs conventional wisdom when you've got a whole lot of uncertainty hanging over your head? It's like trying to build a house on shaky ground – what if it all comes crashing down?

Can you believe the way they're pushing the limits out there? Like, I'm not saying it's a bad thing or anything, but Kushner and Witkoff are literally getting out of the room to make deals happen . I mean, who needs those traditional diplomatic channels when you can just have an in-person chat with Ismail Haniyeh and Benjamin Netanyahu, right? It's definitely...different. But hey, if it gets results, who cares about conventional wisdom? The question is, how sustainable is this approach gonna be? I mean, we all know the Middle East doesn't exactly run on sunshine and rainbows .

man... I don't know what's more wild about this whole situation ... on one hand you got these two dealmakers who are literally shaking things up and trying new approaches ... Kushner is basically saying they didn't wanna be stuck in a rut and follow the same old playbook, which I can get behind, but at the same time... there's some pretty major caveats with this whole thing like what about transparency and the whole Jerusalem thing? shouldn't that be on the table?

I'm not sure I buy this whole "think outside the box" thing... sounds like they just winged it and hoped for the best . I mean, forging relationships with key figures on both sides? That's just good old-fashioned politics, not some revolutionary new approach to diplomacy . And what about all those critics saying it's lacking in transparency? You can't just ignore potential pitfalls like that... I'm not saying their efforts are doomed to fail or anything, but let's keep things in perspective . Maybe this "unconventional strategy" will actually work, maybe it won't . Either way, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole Israel-Hamas thing . I mean, Kushner and Witkoff's strategy sounds like a total wild card to me - all that interpersonal stuff with Hamas and Netanyahu? It's just so... unconventional . And what really gets me is when they say they didn't want to be part of the problem, but still ended up making a deal . I guess you can say it was a bit of a gamble .

And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency - that's just shady . Still, I have to give Kushner and Witkoff credit for trying something new . It'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out in the long run .

I'm intrigued by this unconventional strategy & how it's being received . As someone who's been following the Israel-Hamas situation for a while, I think Kushner & Witkoff's willingness to break the mold is actually kinda refreshing . We've seen so many failed attempts at traditional diplomacy that it's nice to see people willing to shake things up and try something new .

Of course, there are still concerns about transparency & key issues like Jerusalem's status, but I think Kushner & Witkoff's approach has merit . By forging personal relationships with key figures on both sides, they've created a foundation for meaningful dialogue . It's definitely not going to be easy, but if anyone can make it work, these two have the track record .

Ultimately, I think this is an interesting experiment that could lead to some real breakthroughs . But we'll have to wait & see how it plays out in the long run .

so I'm reading this and I think it's interesting how Kushner and Witkoff are trying to break free from traditional diplomacy . I mean, they're not afraid to challenge norms and forge new relationships with key figures on both sides of the conflict. It's like they're saying, "let's try something different" . But at the same time, you can't help but wonder if this approach is gonna work in the long run . I mean, there are some serious concerns about transparency and key issues like Jerusalem's status... it all feels a bit too good to be true . still, it's definitely food for thought and I'm curious to see how this plays out .

I'm not sure I agree with these guys, tbh They think just being friends with Hamas and Netanyahu makes a difference? Like, have they even met Ismail Haniyeh's grandma? It sounds like just some PR spin to me, trying to make it seem like they actually care about the people on both sides of the conflict. Newsflash: it's not that easy to just "get out of" a centuries-old problem And what's with this whole "we didn't want to be beholden to conventional wisdom" vibe? Like, isn't that exactly what diplomats are supposed to do? Anyway, I'd love to see the actual numbers and data on how effective their "unconventional strategy" has been...

Yeah right! Kushner and Witkoff's unorthodox strategy sounds like just a bunch of BS to me They think forging relationships with Hamas and Netanyahu is gonna magically solve everything? Please, it's not that easy . I mean, have they even met the actual people involved in this conflict? Or are they just winging it like most politicians do? And what about all those "deep-seated doubts" about traditional approaches? Yeah sure, because trying to negotiate with extremists is always a great idea . Newsflash: this ain't gonna work out, guys. They're just throwing good money after bad . We'll see how long it takes for the whole thing to implode .

Lmao what's up with these two? Think they can just go rogue and make a peace deal out of thin air . I mean Kushner is always been a bit shady, but Witkoff's deadpan humor on that one has me dying . Their approach might've worked in the short term but what about the long game? Did they even consider the consequences of their actions? It's all just a bunch of diplomats being diplomatic . Can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out, spoiler alert: it'll probably end in a big mess