In a bid to breathe new life into a stalled Gaza ceasefire plan, Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to former U.S. President Donald Trump, held a meeting with Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday. This interaction was part of a broader U.S. diplomatic initiative aimed at reviving the ceasefire efforts. The meeting took place ahead of Kushner’s scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently turned down a U.S.-endorsed 15-point roadmap for the next phase of the ceasefire.
The U.S.-backed strategy proposes a phased disarmament of Hamas, complemented by a halt in Israeli military actions and a withdrawal from specific regions within Gaza. The roadmap also outlines plans for reconstruction and the involvement of international forces to ensure security in the area. Hamas has expressed its commitment to the proposed plan, contingent on Israel ceasing its attacks and withdrawing to the designated “yellow line” before any implementation begins. Additionally, Hamas has tied the relinquishment of its heavier weaponry to progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, a notion opposed by Netanyahu’s administration.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, has maintained that Israeli forces will not fully retreat from Gaza until Hamas is entirely disarmed. This ongoing disagreement has hindered key components of the ceasefire plan, including reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international security forces. The meeting Kushner held with Hamas, which included officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed to secure Hamas’s agreement, particularly on disarmament, before Kushner’s subsequent discussions with Netanyahu.
In addition to his meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner is anticipated to engage with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, Director of the Board of Peace. The diplomatic push has garnered criticism from multiple regional countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, which have voiced disapproval of Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed roadmap and have called for immediate measures to prevent further delays.
The renewed diplomatic effort surfaces as Netanyahu confronts political pressure leading up to Israel’s October election. His coalition includes ministers who advocate for a more stringent stance on Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.