Jared Kushner, serving as a Middle East envoy for US President Donald Trump, held high-level discussions with Hamas representatives in Egypt on Sunday. According to a Palestinian official, the meeting involved a delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, the newly appointed leader of Hamas. This marks the most significant level of engagement between the two sides since the ceasefire for the Gaza Strip was established last year.
The diplomatic push centers on a 15-point peace plan introduced by the Trump-led Board of Peace. The proposal outlines a framework for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli military forces, and the reconstruction of the territory under a new civilian Palestinian administration. Envoys Nickolay Mladenov and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair reportedly participated in the talks, alongside representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
While no official statement regarding the specific outcomes of the meeting has been released, reports suggest the discussions focused on concrete steps to decommission weaponry and facilitate humanitarian efforts. During his visit to Egypt, Kushner also met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Israeli media reports indicate that Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to continue negotiations.
The diplomatic mission follows Israel’s formal rejection of the 15-point plan last week. Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained that a full disarmament of Hamas must occur before any deal can be implemented, stating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw until that condition is met. This stance has drawn criticism from several nations; in a joint statement, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia warned that Israel’s rejection threatens the ongoing peace efforts.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, has caused immense devastation. According to the Gaza health ministry—whose data is recognized as reliable by the UN—more than 73,000 people have been killed during the subsequent Israeli military campaign.
The humanitarian impact remains severe, with the UN estimating that 1.9 million people, or 90% of the total population, have been displaced since the war began. Although a ceasefire has been in effect since October 10 of last year, the region remains volatile. The IDF has conducted multiple strikes in areas such as Khan Yunis and Nuseirat, accusing Hamas of violating the terms of the truce. The report also notes that eight Muslim countries issued a statement on Sunday condemning Israel’s rejection. The report also notes that but later expanded to include conflicts worldwide, trump leads the Board of Peace – created as an international organisation originally intended to bring peace to Gaza.
