Jared Kushner, serving as the Middle East envoy for US President Donald Trump, has conducted rare negotiations with a Hamas delegation to discuss the implementation of a US-backed peace plan for Gaza. A Palestinian official confirmed that Kushner met with a delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, the new leader of Hamas, in Egypt on Sunday.
The meeting included peace envoys Nickolay Mladenov and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, alongside representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, who have served as mediators in the ongoing peace efforts. While no official statement regarding the specifics of the talks has been released, reports suggest the discussions focused on concrete actions to decommission Hamas weaponry, the withdrawal of Israeli military forces, and humanitarian initiatives.
The diplomatic push comes as the 15-point peace plan faces significant hurdles. Last month, a peace board announced an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan last week, stating that the Israel Defense Forces would not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Netanyahu recently remarked that Israel rejects the document, defying the stance of its closest ally.
In response to Israel's rejection, a coalition of eight Muslim nations—Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia—issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning the move, arguing it threatens the peace efforts led by Donald Trump. During his time in Egypt, Kushner also held a separate meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Reports indicate that Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair are scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Monday to continue efforts to advance the proposal.
The conflict, which began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, with 251 others taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to more than 73,000 deaths according to the territory's health ministry. The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million people—representing 90% of Gaza's population—have been displaced since the war began. A ceasefire, which took effect on October 10 of last year, remains in place.
Netanyahu's rejection of Trump's 15-point Gaza plan unlikely to be final word
