Jared Kushner, a U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, met with Hamas leaders in Egypt to advance stalled ceasefire efforts in Gaza. This meeting marks a significant diplomatic attempt to revive the 15-point plan aimed at disarming Hamas and facilitating Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Kushner plans to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the road map that affects over 2 million residents in Gaza, a region still heavily influenced by Israeli military presence ten months post-ceasefire.
Last year, Kushner and other envoys, including Steve Witkoff, succeeded in establishing the ceasefire with Hamas during previous talks in Egypt. The current discussions focus on overcoming the disarmament obstacle.
The meeting in Egypt involved Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and envoys from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Two unnamed officials confirmed the sensitive discussions.
Despite the U.S.-backed plan, Netanyahu publicly rejected the 15-point framework. However, Kushner, Tony Blair, and Nickolay Mladenov aim to convince Netanyahu to reconsider using a revised strategy to address the existing concerns.
Several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, criticized Israel’s stance. They released a statement accusing Israel of hindering peace initiatives and called on international bodies to enforce the plan.
Kushner’s meeting with Hamas seeks affirmation of the group’s readiness to proceed with the roadmap, particularly their commitment to disarmament, ahead of engaging with Netanyahu.
The Hamas representative stated the group is prepared for a 14-day negotiation phase, essential for implementing the plan, and awaits consensus from involved parties. The group insists Israel stop preemptive attacks and retreat to the “yellow line” as a condition to commence proceedings.
The road map proposes Hamas surrender weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee, though no action has been taken as the committee hasn’t entered Gaza. Hamas coercively connected disarmament to Palestinian statehood, which Israel’s government opposes.
Israel’s demand for complete disarmament of Hamas delays other ceasefire aspects, like reconstruction and peacekeeper deployment. Facing an election, Netanyahu’s stance may reflect internal politics and coalition dynamics.
With another election looming, Netanyahu faces pressure from coalition members with stringent Gaza policies. His Likud party charges that Arab states desire his defeat to ease their demands on the next administration. This political context influences ceasefire discussions.