In a significant diplomatic move, Jared Kushner, senior advisor to the U.S. President, engaged in talks with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting represents a renewed U.S. effort to advance a stalled ceasefire initiative between Hamas and Israel regarding the Gaza Strip. The discussions occurred one day prior to Kushner’s scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently declined a U.S.-supported 15-point proposal designed to guide the next steps in the ceasefire process.
The proposed plan outlines a gradual disarmament of Hamas, paired with a cessation of Israeli military activities and a partial withdrawal from Gaza. Additionally, it proposes reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces to bolster security. While Hamas has expressed adherence to the road map, it insists that Israel must first cease attacks and retreat to the designated “yellow line” before the plan’s implementation. Moreover, Hamas has tied the surrender of its heavier armaments to progress on establishing a Palestinian state, a notion that Netanyahu’s administration opposes.
Netanyahu has maintained that a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is contingent upon the complete disarmament of Hamas, a stance that has delayed crucial components of the ceasefire plan, including reconstruction and the deployment of international forces. Kushner’s meeting, attended by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, sought to secure Hamas’s agreement to the plan, particularly regarding the disarmament issue, ahead of his discussions with Netanyahu.
In a related development, Kushner is also expected to meet with Netanyahu alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, director of the Board of Peace. Meanwhile, several regional nations, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have expressed disapproval of Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed plan, urging swift action to avoid further delays.
This diplomatic push coincides with Netanyahu facing mounting political pressure as Israel’s October election approaches. His governing coalition includes ministers advocating for a more stringent approach to Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.