Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and envoy, engaged in diplomatic discussions with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting is part of a renewed US initiative to reinvigorate a stalled ceasefire plan for Gaza. Kushner’s visit precedes his scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently rejected a 15-point US-backed proposal outlining the next steps in the ceasefire process.
The ceasefire plan suggests a phased disarmament of Hamas in exchange for Israel halting military actions and pulling back from certain areas in Gaza. It also outlines reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces to ensure security. While Hamas has expressed continued support for the plan, it demands that Israel halt attacks and withdraw to the agreed “yellow line” before any measures are implemented. Furthermore, Hamas ties the relinquishment of its heavier weaponry to progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, a notion opposed by Netanyahu’s administration.
Netanyahu has maintained that Israeli forces will not fully withdraw from Gaza unless Hamas is completely disarmed, creating a deadlock in the ceasefire plan’s progress, including reconstruction and international force deployment. Kushner’s meeting with Hamas included representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, focusing on securing Hamas’s commitment to disarmament before his discussions with Netanyahu. Kushner is also set to confer with Netanyahu alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, Director of the Board of Peace.
Several regional nations, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have criticized Israel’s refusal of the US-backed road map, calling for prompt action to avert further delays. This fresh diplomatic push comes as Netanyahu faces political pressure ahead of Israel’s October election. His ruling coalition includes members who advocate for a more aggressive stance on Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.