Jared Kushner, the Middle East envoy for US President Donald Trump, held a significant diplomatic meeting with Hamas leadership in Egypt on Sunday to advance a proposed peace settlement for Gaza. The encounter, which involved Hamas’s newly appointed leader Khalil al-Hayya, represented the highest-level discussion between the parties since a ceasefire agreement was established last year. Representatives from the Board of Peace, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, attended the discussions.
The timing of this engagement follows Israel’s rejection of Trump’s comprehensive 15-point peace proposal just one week earlier. The plan calls for Hamas disarmament, Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of a new civilian Palestinian administration to oversee reconstruction efforts. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that complete Hamas disarmament must occur before implementing any withdrawal of troops, positioning the two sides at an impasse.
In response to Israel’s rejection, eight Muslim-majority nations released a joint statement condemning the decision and warning that it threatens diplomatic progress. During his Egypt visit, Kushner also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. According to reports, negotiations centered on implementing concrete measures for weapons decommissioning and humanitarian initiatives. Kushner is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Monday in an effort to advance the Trump administration’s peace framework.
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