In a concerted effort to rejuvenate a dormant ceasefire initiative in Gaza, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and envoy of former U.S. President Donald Trump, engaged in discussions with Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas political figure, in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting preceded Kushner’s planned talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently turned down a U.S.-supported 15-point roadmap designed for the subsequent phase of the ceasefire.
The proposed plan seeks a gradual disarmament of Hamas while requiring Israel to cease military actions and withdraw from specific areas of Gaza. Additionally, the plan outlines reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces tasked with maintaining security. Although Hamas has expressed its dedication to the roadmap, it has conditioned its compliance on Israel halting attacks and retreating to the designated “yellow line” before steps are taken. The organization also ties the relinquishment of its heavier arsenal to advancements toward establishing a Palestinian state, a notion opposed by Netanyahu’s administration.
Netanyahu has maintained that a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza is contingent upon the full disarmament of Hamas. This fundamental disagreement has led to delays in critical aspects of the ceasefire plan, such as rebuilding efforts and the deployment of international peacekeepers. Kushner’s session with Hamas, which included representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed to secure Hamas’s commitment to the disarmament aspect of the plan before Kushner’s subsequent meeting with Netanyahu.
Joining Kushner in the upcoming discussions with Netanyahu are former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. The diplomatic initiative has drawn criticism from several regional nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, who have voiced their disapproval of Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-endorsed roadmap and have called for swift measures to prevent further postponements.
This renewed diplomatic engagement occurs against a backdrop of political pressure on Netanyahu, who is facing an election in October. His governing coalition includes ministers who advocate for a more stringent stance toward Gaza, casting uncertainty over the future implementation of the ceasefire plan.