Jared Kushner meets Hamas and Netanyahu to salvage Trump Gaza peace plan
Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, held a rare high-level meeting with Hamas on Sunday in an urgent bid to rescue the stalled Gaza peace framework. According to reports, the diplomatic mission is designed to bridge stark divides between militant leadership and the Israeli government regarding the timing of military withdrawal and disarmament. Kushner's regional tour is set to continue with a critical meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The diplomatic push follows President Trump's late July announcement of a comprehensive 15-point peace plan created under his newly established Peace Council. While Hamas has reportedly expressed acceptance of the proposed terms, Prime Minister Netanyahu firmly rejected the initiative earlier this month over scheduling concerns. Israel insists that its military campaign in the Gaza Strip will only conclude once Hamas achieves complete and total disarmament.
The initial proposal granted both sides a strict two-week window to negotiate an agreed schedule for troop withdrawal and weapons handover. With that initial deadline now expired, Kushner has traveled directly to the region to prevent the fragile diplomatic framework from completely collapsing. Alongside regional mediators, the US delegation is working intensively to establish a mutually acceptable transition timeline for the war-torn territory.
During his stop in Egypt, Kushner met with Khalil Al Hayya, who took over as the new leader of Hamas last month. This direct engagement marks one of the highest-level contacts between a US envoy and the militant group since last year's ceasefire agreements. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi also participated in the mediation efforts to facilitate dialogue between the opposing factions.
Political obstacles mount as Israeli leadership rejects immediate terms
The central paradox facing Washington negotiators is that while Hamas accepted the US-backed 15-point plan, Israel remains staunchly opposed to the current sequencing of events. Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly maintained that Israel will prioritize absolute national security above all external advice. "Frente a aquellos que nos dan lecciones, nosotros hacemos lo que sea necesario para la seguridad de Israel, y sabemos mantenernos firmes, incluso frente a nuestros mejores amigos cuando sea necesario," Netanyahu stated regarding his administration's independent security stance.
Key figures from the Peace Council, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, joined Kushner during his discussions with Al Hayya. These prominent mediators are scheduled to accompany the US envoy to Jerusalem for the crucial follow-up meeting with Netanyahu. The presence of international figures underscores the high stakes involved in attempting to finalize the transitional political structure for Gaza.
The ongoing dispute centers strictly on the chronological order of implementation, with Israel demanding full disarmament prior to any military evacuation from the Strip. Conversely, Hamas and various regional stakeholders have pushed for concurrent or reversed steps that protect their operational interests. Finding a compromise on this timing issue remains the primary obstacle for American diplomats attempting to secure a lasting regional resolution.
As Kushner continues his high-stakes diplomatic rounds across the Middle East, the future of the Trump administration's Middle East peace initiative hangs in the balance. With leadership from both Israel and Hamas holding deeply entrenched positions, the coming days will determine whether a viable compromise can be reached. The outcome of these discussions will significantly impact regional stability and the broader political landscape for the remainder of the presidential term.
