Tel aviv: US envoy Jared Kushner is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday after engaging in discussions with Hamas leaders in Egypt to revive a US-backed Gaza peace plan that Israel has so far declined to endorse. This meeting follows Hamas's recent support of the latest phase of Trump's Gaza plan, a move Netanyahu has resisted, asserting that any agreement must ensure Hamas is "genuinely disarmed."
According to TRTworld.com, Kushner met with Hamas's new leader Khalil al-Hayya in El-Alamein, Egypt, on Sunday. During the talks, Kushner urged Hamas to take "concrete, verifiable steps" and conveyed the message that "Gaza can never again be a source of terror for Israel," according to a source who spoke under anonymity due to the discussions' sensitive nature. Hamas reiterated its commitment to the plan, as reported by another source. The Palestinian resistance group later called on mediators and Trump's Board of Peace to pressure Israel into approving the roadmap and establishing a timeline for its implementation.
A photograph released by Egypt did not feature al-Hayya but showed Kushner with members of the Board of Peace, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Key mediators such as Qatar and Trkiye were also present. The US has historically avoided contact with Hamas, which led a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, followed by an Israeli military response in Gaza. However, the Trump administration has gradually moved towards direct engagement to resolve the ongoing conflict, facilitating the October ceasefire agreement that secured the release of remaining Israeli hostages.
Pressure from Muslim States
Three regional mediator countries and five other Muslim nations, including Trkiye, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Indonesia, condemned Israel's rejection of the plan. In a joint statement, they asserted that "Israel bears direct and full responsibility" for hindering peace and warned that its refusal "directly threatens to derail extensive efforts" by Trump. In reaction, Netanyahu's Likud Party accused "the Arab countries" of attempting to undermine the prime minister in the elections.
The UAE's involvement is noteworthy, given its normalized relations with Israel five years ago, which initiated a significant economic and strategic partnership that Netanyahu regards as a major success. 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 completely disarmed, Netanyahu remains opposed to the US plan.
Meanwhile, 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.