Jared Kushner, who serves as an envoy and is the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, engaged in discussions with Khalil al-Hayya, the political leader of Hamas, in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting was part of a renewed diplomatic push by the United States to breathe new life into a stalled ceasefire plan concerning the Gaza region. The encounter took place just a day before Kushner was slated to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently dismissed a U.S.-endorsed 15-point roadmap aimed at advancing the next phase of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire proposal outlines a gradual disarmament of Hamas while requiring Israel to cease military actions and pull back from certain areas of Gaza. Additionally, the plan includes reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international forces to bolster security in the region. Hamas has indicated its support for the roadmap but insists that Israel must halt its attacks and retreat to a designated “yellow line” before the plan can be implemented. Furthermore, Hamas has linked the relinquishment of its heavier weaponry to progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, a prospect that Netanyahu’s administration opposes.
On the other hand, Netanyahu has made it clear that Israeli forces will not fully withdraw from the Gaza area until there is complete disarmament of Hamas. This disagreement has caused significant delays in crucial aspects of the ceasefire plan, including reconstruction initiatives and the deployment of international forces. Kushner’s meeting with Hamas, which included officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed to secure Hamas’s agreement to the plan, especially regarding the disarmament issue, before Kushner’s subsequent meeting with Netanyahu.
Kushner is also expected to meet with Netanyahu, accompanied by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. Several countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have expressed criticism of Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed roadmap and have called for immediate measures to prevent further delays.
This diplomatic initiative comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who is facing significant pressure ahead of Israel’s October election. His governing coalition includes ministers advocating for a more stringent stance on Gaza, rendering the future of the ceasefire plan uncertain.