Jared Kushner, a key US negotiator and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, conducted a rare meeting with the leader of Hamas on Sunday. This diplomatic initiative aims to break the deadlock in the Gaza ceasefire. Kushner is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day.
The discussions are focused on rescuing a recently proposed 15-point plan, backed by the United States, which requires Hamas to disarm in Gaza and Israel to withdraw from the war-torn Palestinian territory.
The outcome of these talks could determine the fate of approximately 2 million residents in Gaza and the prospects for reconstructing the densely populated area, which is currently under significant Israeli control. This comes over ten months after the ceasefire halted large-scale military activities.
Previously, a meeting in Egypt involving Kushner, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Hamas officials played a crucial role in securing the ceasefire. However, advancements have been hindered due to the contentious issue of Hamas’s disarmament.
The uncommon meeting in Egypt with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya was verified by both a regional and a Hamas official, who requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak to the media. Kushner was part of a delegation including other envoys, with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey also present.
In an unusual public challenge against the Trump administration, Israel’s closest ally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 15-point plan last week.
