On August 17, 2026, Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and envoy, engaged in meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These discussions marked a follow-up to rare talks with Hamas’ leadership, aiming to rekindle the rejected peace plan for Gaza. Prior efforts by the U.S. had established a fragile ceasefire in October. Kushner’s engagement included a delegation led by Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo. However, details of his interaction with Netanyahu remained undisclosed.
The peace process faces obstacles due to the U.S. and Israel’s differing perspectives on the future of the Palestinian enclave and managing the crisis in the occupied West Bank.
Domestically, Netanyahu faces pressure ahead of the upcoming elections in October. Far-right factions within his coalition government have influenced the discourse around peace efforts. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently criticized these efforts, advocating for nightly targeted killings in Gaza.
Netanyahu has previously dismissed a 15-point proposal demanding Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas responded by welcoming a joint condemnation against Israel’s rejection from various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
A Hamas spokesperson indicated disarmament readiness contingent on cessation of Israeli strikes and withdrawal, amidst demands for international recognition of a Palestinian state.
Kushner, alongside Middle East meeting attendees Nickolay Mladenov, former European Parliament member, and Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, continued diplomatic efforts. An official stated both the U.S. and Israel agreed on an ambition to demilitarize Hamas, with further discussions planned on accelerating progress.
“We will hear the concerns that have been raised and talk about next steps,” said the Board of Peace official. “What is critical is that we both agree on the desired outcome and are finding ways to accelerate progress.”
Resistance from sections within Israel against the Trump-backed plan persists. On a recent podcast, Ben-Gvir called for intensified military actions in Gaza, irrespective of the existing ceasefire. His statements drew parallels to those cited in UN legal proceedings against Israel’s alleged genocidal actions, which have been outrightly rejected by the U.S. and Israel.
Ben-Gvir proposed mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza amidst ongoing violence and tension. Concurrently, defense initiatives within the occupied West Bank have intensified. Despite requests in securing order, incidents involving Israeli settlers in Palestinian regions persist, prompting rare criticism from U.S. diplomats who labeled settlers as ‘Israeli terrorists.’ Attacks on West Bank settlers highlighted the ongoing conflict since the pivotal October 2023 attacks.
The violence in Gaza has led to tragic human losses, with over 73,000 deaths, including thousands of children, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.