Jared Kushner, serving as an envoy and son-in-law to Donald Trump, engaged in discussions with Khalil al-Hayya, the political leader of Hamas, in Egypt this past Sunday. This meeting is part of a renewed diplomatic effort by the United States to breathe life into a faltering ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Kushner’s visit to Egypt came just a day before his scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently dismissed a U.S.-supported 15-point plan intended to guide the next steps of the ceasefire.
The proposed plan suggests that Hamas should gradually relinquish its weapons, while Israel would cease military activities and withdraw from selected areas in Gaza. It further outlines strategies for reconstruction and recommends the deployment of international forces to ensure security in the region. However, Hamas maintains its commitment to the road map, on the condition that Israel halts its attacks and retreats to the agreed “yellow line” prior to the plan’s implementation. Moreover, Hamas has tied the relinquishment of its more formidable weapons to progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, a concept that Netanyahu’s administration opposes.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, stands firm on the stance that Israeli forces will not completely pull out of Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, causing a halt in essential aspects of the ceasefire plan, such as reconstruction efforts and the stationing of international forces. The meeting between Kushner and Hamas, observed by representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed to secure Hamas’s agreement to the plan, specifically regarding disarmament, before Kushner’s anticipated meeting with Netanyahu.
In addition to his meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner is expected to confer with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, director of the Board of Peace. Several regional nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have expressed criticism towards Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-endorsed road map, urging swift measures to avert further delays.
This diplomatic initiative gains momentum as Netanyahu confronts political pressure in anticipation of Israel’s October election. His coalition includes ministers advocating for a more stringent approach towards Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire agreement.