In an effort to revive a stalled ceasefire initiative in Gaza, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a key diplomatic envoy, held discussions with Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas political leader, in Egypt on Sunday. This engagement forms part of a renewed U.S. diplomatic push to address the impasse over a Gaza ceasefire plan. The meeting occurred just a day prior to Kushner’s scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently turned down a U.S.-endorsed 15-point plan aimed at advancing the ceasefire.
The proposed plan involves a phased disarmament of Hamas, while simultaneously calling for Israel to cease military actions and pull back from certain areas in Gaza. Additionally, the plan envisions reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces to help sustain peace and security in the region. Although Hamas has expressed approval of the road map, it insists on Israel halting attacks and retreating to a pre-determined “yellow line” before any implementation is initiated. Furthermore, Hamas has tied the relinquishing of its heavier weaponry to advancements toward establishing a Palestinian state, a proposal that faces opposition from Netanyahu’s government.
Netanyahu, on his part, has maintained that a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza is contingent upon the full disarmament of Hamas, a condition that has hindered crucial components of the ceasefire plan, including reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international peacekeepers. Kushner’s meeting with Hamas was not held in isolation; it included officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aiming to secure a commitment from Hamas on the disarmament aspect before Kushner’s subsequent meeting 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 Board of Peace director, in further discussions. Several countries in the region, notably Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have criticized Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed plan and have called for urgent measures to avert further delays.
This intensified diplomatic effort comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who is confronting mounting political pressure as Israel approaches its October election. His governing coalition includes ministers advocating for a more stringent stance on Gaza, thereby casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.