Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and special envoy, is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Monday in efforts to advance the American peace plan for Gaza, which Netanyahu has so far opposed.
Kushner’s visit to Israel comes amid Israeli reservations about the American plan, particularly regarding disarming Hamas and implementing Israeli withdrawals.
On Sunday, Kushner met with leaders of the Palestinian Hamas movement in Egypt before heading to Israel.
Hamas had agreed in late July to an American roadmap aimed at launching the second phase of the peace plan, demanding the disarmament of Hamas and Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian sector.
However, Netanyahu officially rejected the document, calling for a “genuine” disarmament of Hamas.
Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, dissolved its civil administration in early July, showing intention to transfer responsibilities to the National Committee for Gaza Administration, a body formed by the “Peace Council” composed of Palestinian technicians, tasked with overseeing the transitional phase in the Palestinian sector.
After meeting with Kushner, Hamas stated they have “called upon mediators and the Peace Council to take responsibility” and compel Israel to fulfill all its obligations in the first phase, “end all violations, halt killings, invasions, agree on the roadmap for the second phase of President Trump’s plan, and start setting a timeline for implementation.”
Kushner had previously met with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, the mediating countries in the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as well as Nickolay Mladenov, the highest representative for Gaza in the “Peace Council” formed by Trump to implement the agreement, according to “Cairo” news channel.
Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday in El Alamein, while Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khalil al-Hayya met with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad.
The U.S. had long refused any contact with Hamas, but in an effort to end the devastating conflict, Trump’s administration has shown greater openness to direct communication.
The Peace Council announced on Friday that Kushner would visit Israel this week alongside Mladenov after his visit to Egypt.
In a joint statement, eight Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, condemned Israel’s rejection of the latest roadmap, arguing it fundamentally undermines “collective efforts toward achieving a fair and lasting peace.”
Hamas and Israel continue to accuse each other of breaching the ceasefire agreement established last October in the devastated Palestinian sector after two years of war sparked by a rare Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.