In a renewed diplomatic effort led by the United States, Jared Kushner, a senior adviser and envoy, engaged in discussions with Khalil al-Hayya, the political chief of Hamas, in Egypt. This meeting, which took place on Sunday, aims to revive a stalled ceasefire plan in Gaza. The diplomatic push is part of a broader initiative to address ongoing tensions and comes just a day before Kushner’s scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu recently rejected a US-backed 15-point plan that outlines the next steps for the ceasefire.
The proposed plan involves a gradual disarmament of Hamas in exchange for a cessation of Israeli military operations and a withdrawal from certain areas of Gaza. It also includes provisions for reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to maintain security. While Hamas has expressed commitment to the proposed roadmap, it has stipulated that Israel must halt its attacks and withdraw to the designated “yellow line” before implementation can begin. Additionally, Hamas has linked the disarming of its heavier weapons to progress towards establishing a Palestinian state, a notion that is opposed by Netanyahu’s government.
Netanyahu, on his part, has maintained that a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza is contingent upon the full disarmament of Hamas. This disagreement has led to the stalling of crucial elements of the ceasefire plan, such as reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international security forces. Kushner’s meeting with Hamas was attended by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, who are working to secure Hamas’s commitment to the plan, especially concerning disarmament, before Kushner meets with Netanyahu.
Ahead of his meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, Kushner is also set to hold talks with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. Meanwhile, several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have voiced criticism of Israel’s refusal to accept the US-backed roadmap, urging immediate action to prevent further delays.
This renewed diplomatic initiative unfolds as Netanyahu faces political challenges with Israel’s upcoming October election. His coalition government includes ministers who advocate for a more stringent approach to the situation in Gaza, casting doubt on the future of the ceasefire plan and its implementation.