Tel aviv: US envoy Jared Kushner is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday following discussions with Hamas leaders in Egypt. These talks are a part of efforts to revive a US-backed Gaza peace plan that Israel has thus far rejected. The meeting is scheduled two weeks after Hamas endorsed the latest phase of President Trump's Gaza plan, which Netanyahu opposes, insisting any agreement must ensure Hamas is "genuinely disarmed."
According to TRTworld.com, Kushner met with Hamas's new leader, Khalil al-Hayya, in the Egyptian Mediterranean city of El-Alamein on Sunday. Sources privy to the discussions revealed that Kushner pressed Hamas to take "concrete, verifiable steps" to ensure "Gaza can never again be a source of terror for Israel." Hamas has reiterated its commitment to the plan and urged mediators and Trump's Board of Peace to compel Israel to "approve the roadmap... and begin establishing a timetable for its implementation."
A photograph released by Egypt, which hosted the talks, did not feature al-Hayya but showed Kushner alongside members of the Board of Peace, including Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister. Key mediators, including Qatar and Trkiye, were also present. The Trump administration, initially resistant to contact with Hamas, has grown more open to direct negotiations in hopes of ending the prolonged conflict, which included brokering an October ceasefire agreement leading to the release of remaining Israeli hostages.
The three regional mediator countries, alongside five other Muslim nations-Trkiye, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Indonesia-criticized Israel's refusal of the plan. In a joint statement, they held Israel "directly and fully responsible" for hindering peace, asserting that its refusal "directly threatens to derail extensive efforts" by Trump. Netanyahu's Likud Party responded by claiming that "the Arab countries want to bring down the prime minister" in the upcoming election.
The United Arab Emirates' involvement is noteworthy, given its normalization of relations with Israel five years ago, initiating economic and strategic ties that Netanyahu views as a significant achievement. Despite assurances from Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, that Israel would not need to withdraw troops from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, Netanyahu remains opposed to the US plan. The board initially proposed that Israel begin a phased withdrawal in conjunction with Hamas's disarmament.
Israel has resumed airstrikes and opened fire in Gaza, resulting in injuries to several Palestinians in Nuseirat and Khan Yunis. According to Palestine's health ministry in Gaza, at least 1,262 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli actions since the October 10 ceasefire.