Kushner Meets Hamas Leaders in Egypt to Push Trump's Gaza Plan
Theo Al Jazeera Staff
US envoy Jared Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt to push Trump's Gaza peace plan, including disarmament and ending Hamas's role in governance. Israel has rejected the plan as unacceptable, while Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza despite a nominal ceasefire.
Hamas leaders met in Egypt with Jared Kushner, son-in-law and Middle East envoy of US President Donald Trump, who is seeking to advance a Gaza plan that Israel has rejected.
According to unnamed diplomatic sources speaking to AFP, during the Sunday meeting Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement while Kushner pushed for disarmament and an end to any future Hamas role in governing Gaza.
Kushner's trip to Israel and Egypt is an effort to narrow differences over Trump's latest peace roadmap for Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week called “unacceptable.”
According to Axios, senior Trump-established Peace Council representative Nickolay Mladenov and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, also a council member, joined Kushner in the meeting.
Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya attended alongside Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali Al Thawadi, and a senior Turkish official, Axios reported.
A source told Axios the meeting's goal was to “translate” Hamas disarmament “into concrete, verifiable steps.” Another source familiar with the talks told AFP that Hamas “expressed commitment” to the agreement.
Hamas and the US envoy have not confirmed the meeting took place. The US has for years refused contact with Hamas, which Washington designates a “terrorist organization.” However, the Trump administration has grown increasingly open to direct engagement in hopes of ending the conflict.
Earlier, al-Hayya met Rashad, according to Reuters, while Kushner met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, per el-Sisi's office. A senior Israeli official said Kushner and Mladenov were expected to meet Netanyahu on Monday.
Israeli Strikes Continue
The Israeli official said Israel is concerned about Washington's demand to end targeted assassinations against Hamas gunmen in Gaza. Trump's peace plan calls for an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza, Hamas disarmament as Israeli troops withdraw, and Gaza's reconstruction under a new Palestinian civilian administration.
After scaling back attacks on Gaza earlier this month, Israel has resumed airstrikes in recent days despite the “ceasefire” from October 2025. According to medical staff, at least five Palestinians were wounded on Sunday after an Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp in Khan Younis. A separate airstrike hit an apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, injuring several people.
Last month, Trump declared a breakthrough in plans to end the war, with both Israel and Hamas agreeing. Hamas said it accepted the plan to avoid renewed conflict, but implementation would depend on Israel first meeting its commitments, including withdrawing troops and halting attacks.
According to Palestinian official sources, more than 1,250 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since the “ceasefire” took effect, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to over 73,300.
