Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump and his envoy, engaged in talks with Khalil al-Hayya, the political chief of Hamas, in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting marked a renewed effort by the US to revive a Gaza ceasefire plan that has been stalled. The discussions with Hamas occurred just a day before Kushner’s scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently dismissed a US-backed 15-point proposal aimed at advancing the ceasefire.
The ceasefire plan outlined in the US-backed roadmap suggests that Hamas should gradually surrender its weapons. In return, Israel would halt its military operations and withdraw from certain parts of Gaza. The plan also includes provisions for reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international forces to ensure security. Hamas has expressed its commitment to this roadmap but has conditioned its compliance on Israel ceasing its attacks and withdrawing to the previously agreed “yellow line.” Furthermore, Hamas has tied the surrender of its heavier weaponry to progress towards establishing a Palestinian state, an idea that Netanyahu’s government opposes.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained that Israeli forces will not completely withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, a stance that has led to significant delays in key aspects of the ceasefire plan, including reconstruction and the deployment of international forces. Jared Kushner’s meeting with Hamas included officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and focused on securing Hamas’s agreement to the plan, especially regarding disarmament, before his meeting with Netanyahu.
In addition to his discussions with Netanyahu, Kushner is expected to be joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. The US diplomatic initiative has drawn criticism from several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, who have condemned Israel’s rejection of the roadmap and called for prompt action to prevent further delays.
This diplomatic push occurs as Prime Minister Netanyahu faces political pressure ahead of Israel’s elections in October. His coalition government includes ministers who advocate for a more aggressive stance towards Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.