In a significant development aimed at reviving a stalled ceasefire plan in Gaza, Jared Kushner, senior advisor and envoy for the United States, held talks with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting is a part of a broader U.S. diplomatic initiative to address the ongoing conflict. The meeting came just a day before Kushner’s scheduled discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently dismissed a U.S.-endorsed 15-point proposal intended to advance the ceasefire process.
The U.S.-backed plan outlines a gradual disarmament of Hamas while calling for Israel to cease military actions and begin withdrawing from certain areas of Gaza. Additionally, the proposal includes measures for reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to ensure security. While Hamas has expressed its commitment to the road map, it insists on Israel halting attacks and retreating to the designated “yellow line” before any steps are taken. Moreover, Hamas has tied the relinquishment of its heavier weaponry to progress on establishing a Palestinian state, a notion that Netanyahu’s government currently opposes.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, has maintained that a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza is contingent upon the complete disarmament of Hamas. This fundamental disagreement has impeded crucial aspects of the ceasefire plan, such as reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international peacekeeping forces. Kushner’s meeting was attended by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and focused on securing Hamas’s agreement to the plan, particularly concerning disarmament, before Kushner’s meeting with Netanyahu.
In addition to his discussions with Netanyahu, Kushner is also expected to meet with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, director of the Board of Peace. The diplomatic initiative has attracted criticism from several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, who have urged Israel to accept the U.S.-backed road map and avoid further delays.
This renewed push for diplomacy comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who faces mounting pressure ahead of Israel’s October elections. His governing coalition includes members advocating for a more stringent approach toward Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire plan.