In a renewed effort to advance stalled peace negotiations in Gaza, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and envoy of former U.S. President Donald Trump, met with Khalil al-Hayya, the political chief of Hamas, in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting occurred just a day before Kushner was set to have discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently dismissed a U.S.-endorsed 15-point plan aimed at progressing the ceasefire process.
The proposed plan outlines a gradual disarmament of Hamas while calling for Israel to cease military operations and pull back from certain areas in Gaza. Additionally, the plan includes reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces to maintain security. While Hamas has shown commitment to this road map, it demands that Israel halt its attacks and retreat to the “yellow line” as a prerequisite for beginning implementation. Hamas also ties the relinquishment of its heavier weaponry to advancements toward establishing a Palestinian state, a notion opposed by Netanyahu’s administration.
Prime Minister Netanyahu maintains that a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza is contingent upon the full disarmament of Hamas. This impasse has hindered crucial aspects of the ceasefire plan, such as reconstruction and the deployment of international peacekeepers. Kushner’s talks with Hamas, which included delegates from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, focused on securing Hamas’s commitment to the plan, with particular emphasis on the disarmament issue, ahead of Kushner’s engagement with Netanyahu.
During his visit, Kushner is also expected to meet with Netanyahu in the company of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. Several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have voiced criticism over Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed plan, urging swift action to prevent further delays in the peace process.
This renewed diplomatic initiative comes at a critical time for Netanyahu, who is facing political pressure with Israel’s elections approaching in October. His coalition government includes ministers advocating for a stricter stance on Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.