Kushner Arrives in Israel, Expected to Review Gaza Peace Plan with Netanyahu

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, has arrived in Israel, where he is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His trip follows unusual talks with Hamas, held as part of efforts to implement the US-backed Gaza peace plan. The Trump-led Board of Peace announced an agreement last month calling for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.

Israel has opposed the US president’s 15-point plan. In addition to disarmament, the proposal includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the reconstruction of Gaza under a new Palestinian civilian administration.

The Jewish state’s rejection of the plan was condemned by eight Muslim countries. A Palestinian official said Kushner met in Egypt on Sunday with a Hamas delegation led by the group’s new leader, Khalil al-Hayya.

According to the BBC, Hamas asked mediators and the Board of Peace to compel Israel to accept the plan for the next phases. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces difficult elections in October, as well as pressure from his governing coalition, which includes ministers demanding a tougher approach toward Gaza. Many Israelis also doubt whether Hamas is genuinely prepared to surrender its weapons.

The talks between Kushner and al-Hayya are considered the highest-level contact between the parties since last year’s Gaza ceasefire agreement. Representatives from the Board of Peace, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey—countries that have played a mediating role in peace efforts—were also present at the meeting.

Reports indicate that the discussions focused on Hamas’s disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, no official statement on the outcome of the meeting has yet been made public.