In a significant diplomatic effort by the United States to revive a stalled ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Jared Kushner, senior advisor and envoy, met with Khalil al-Hayya, the political leader of Hamas, in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting occurred just one day prior to Kushner’s scheduled discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Tensions have been high as Netanyahu recently rejected a US-supported 15-point plan aimed at moving the ceasefire process forward.
The proposed plan involves Hamas gradually disarming, while Israel would halt military actions and withdraw from certain areas of Gaza. It also seeks to focus on reconstruction efforts and the introduction of international forces to maintain security in the region. Hamas has expressed its commitment to the road map but insists that Israel must first cease attacks and retract to a previously agreed “yellow line.” Additionally, Hamas has tied the issue of surrendering its heavier weapons to making progress towards establishing a Palestinian state, a concept that Netanyahu’s government opposes.
Netanyahu has maintained a firm stance that Israeli forces will not fully withdraw from Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed. This fundamental disagreement has delayed the implementation of key aspects of the ceasefire plan, such as reconstruction and the deployment of international forces. Kushner’s meeting was attended by representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, focusing on securing Hamas’s commitment to disarmament before his upcoming talks with Netanyahu.
Alongside Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, director of the Board of Peace, are also expected to engage in discussions with Netanyahu. Meanwhile, a number of regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have voiced criticism of Israel’s rejection of the US-backed plan, urging immediate steps to avoid further delays.
This renewed diplomatic initiative comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who is facing mounting pressure ahead of Israel’s elections in October. His coalition includes ministers advocating for a more stringent approach towards Gaza, which adds another layer of complexity to the future of the ceasefire efforts.