Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump and a key diplomatic envoy, engaged in discussions with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting is part of a renewed effort by the United States to advance a stalled Gaza ceasefire plan. The encounter occurred just a day before Kushner’s scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently dismissed a US-backed 15-point proposal intended to guide the next steps of the ceasefire.
The proposed road map outlines a gradual disarmament of Hamas while Israel would cease military operations and withdraw from certain areas of Gaza. Additionally, the plan includes measures for reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to ensure security. While Hamas has expressed commitment to the plan, it demands that Israel halt its attacks and retreat to a designated “yellow line” before any implementation begins. Furthermore, Hamas has tied the surrender of its more substantial weaponry to progress towards establishing a Palestinian state, a prospect that Netanyahu’s administration opposes.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, maintains that Israeli forces will not completely exit Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, creating a deadlock in critical aspects of the ceasefire agreement, including reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international peacekeepers. Kushner’s discussions with Hamas were attended by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, focusing on securing Hamas’s agreement to the plan, especially regarding disarmament, before he meets with Netanyahu.
In addition to meeting Netanyahu, Kushner is expected to be joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace, for further talks. The US-backed road map has been met with criticism from several regional nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, all of which have urged Israel to reconsider its stance to avoid further delays.
This diplomatic initiative comes at a crucial time as Netanyahu faces mounting political pressure ahead of Israel’s upcoming October election. His ruling coalition includes ministers favoring a stricter policy towards Gaza, casting doubt on the future viability of the ceasefire plan.