Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and envoy of former U.S. President Donald Trump, held a meeting with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday. This engagement is part of a renewed diplomatic effort by the United States to revive a stalled ceasefire plan for Gaza. The meeting with Hamas took place a day before Kushner’s scheduled discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently turned down a U.S.-supported 15-point roadmap for advancing the ceasefire.
The proposed plan suggests a gradual disarmament of Hamas, while Israel would halt military actions and withdraw from certain areas of Gaza. Additionally, the roadmap includes plans for reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international forces to ensure security. While Hamas has expressed commitment to this roadmap, it insists that Israel must cease attacks and retreat to the agreed “yellow line” before the plan’s implementation can commence. Furthermore, Hamas has tied the surrender of its more substantial weapons to progress towards establishing a Palestinian state, a concept that Netanyahu’s administration opposes.
Netanyahu has maintained that a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza is contingent upon the total disarmament of Hamas. This impasse has delayed crucial elements of the ceasefire plan, such as reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces. Kushner’s meeting with Hamas included officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, with the primary focus on securing Hamas’s agreement to the plan, especially regarding disarmament, prior to his talks with Netanyahu.
In addition to his meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner is expected to be joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. Several regional nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have voiced criticism over Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed roadmap and have called for swift action to prevent further delays.
This renewed diplomatic initiative comes as Netanyahu faces mounting political pressure ahead of the upcoming October elections in Israel. His coalition government includes ministers advocating for a more stringent approach to the Gaza situation, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.