Monday, August 17, 2026 - Jared Kushner has stepped up a high-stakes diplomatic push for a Gaza peace deal, holding rare talks with Hamas leaders in Egypt as the Trump administration tries to revive a stalled U.S.-backed roadmap.
Kushner met Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo on Sunday, while Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators were also involved in the wider discussions. The 15-point plan seeks to move Gaza toward a permanent ceasefire, Hamas disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal.
The negotiations face a major obstacle: Israel has rejected the current roadmap, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that Hamas must be fully disarmed before Israeli forces withdraw.
Hamas, meanwhile, has called for an end to Israeli attacks and a withdrawal to the agreed “yellow line” before it begins disarmament. Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan have backed pressure to keep the peace initiative moving, increasing the urgency around Kushner’s mission.
Kushner is due to meet Netanyahu in Jerusalem, making the next stage of the diplomacy critical. The U.S. plan envisions Hamas giving up its weapons and governing role, while Gaza would move toward civilian Palestinian administration and reconstruction.
Whether Washington can bridge the sharply different demands from Israel and Hamas could determine whether the latest peace effort finally moves from negotiations to implementation—or stalls again as violence continues.
0 Comments