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Gaza deal: What happened in Hamas-Jared Kushner meeting? Trump's son-in-law to meet Netanyahu next
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Gaza deal: What happened in Hamas-Jared Kushner meeting? Trump's son-in-law to meet Netanyahu next. Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and US envoy, who held a rare direct meeting with the Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier, will now meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Kushner met Hamas' new leader Khalil al-Hayya in the Egyptian Meditarranean city of El-Alamein on Sunday, sources told AFP. The talks were aimed at reviving a US-backed Gaza peace plan that Israel has so far rejected. It marked Kushner’s second known meeting with representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated a terrorist movement by the United States, and which led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Kushner previously met Hamas officials alongside US envoy Steve Witkoff in October 2025. The latest talks were held as the White House and Trump's Board of Peace push Hamas and Israel to move to the next phase of the US 20-point peace plan. What did Hamas tell Kushner? ‘Will only begin disarming if…’Hamas, yet again, voiced its commitment to Trump's Gaza plan, another source told AFP. It, however, said the deal's implementation would depend on Israel first meeting its own commitments, including withdrawal and halting attacks in Gaza. The group also agreed on the roadmap for Gaza ceasefire’s second phase of Trump's plan. The group reportedly accused Israel of failing to implement the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and called on the mediators and the Board of Peace to press Israel to meet its obligations. In a statement, Hamas said it called on Trump's Board and mediating countries to:1. “Compel the occupation [Israel] to implement all its obligations under the first phase, end all violations, halt killings and incursions"2. "Approve the roadmap for the second phase” of the US-brokered ceasefire plan3. Set-up a timetable for the implementation of this phase. Meanwhile, an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that Hamas officials told Jared Kushner that they will only begin implementing the Board of Peace’s disarmament plan if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly commits to adhering to its terms as well. According to a statement, published by Palestine’s Shehab news agency and shared by IRNA, Hamas’s approval was based on the interests of the Palestinian people and its desire to achieve a permanent ceasefire and ensure the complete withdrawal of the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to disarm and demilitarise Gaza in a meeting with President Trump's adviser Jared Kushner in Egypt on Sunday, Axios reported while citing sources. The group's leaders, however, expressed frustration about Israeli policy in Gaza, including continued strikes, the source said. Kushner's promise to Hamas. Meanwhile, Kushner reportedly told Hamas leaders they need to take tangible steps on disarmament if they want Israel to take steps of its own. Those steps include transferring governing authority to the Palestinian technocratic government and ensuring Hamas has no role in Gaza's future governance."Kushner stressed to Hamas leaders that the bar is high because the Israeli side doesn't trust them to actually disarm," the source told Axios."Kushner told them there is no room for negotiations on the disarmament, but if they show real steps the US will do its best to make sure Israel takes steps of its own."Hamas leaders assured they are ready to hand over governance in Gaza to the Palestinian technocratic government and not interfere once it begins operating in the enclave, Axios reported. What's next? Kushner is now expected to visit Israel on Monday and meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "corresponding steps" Israel must take, source told Axios. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace wants Hamas to begin decommissioning its weapons and military infrastructure, the source said. If Hamas begins disarming, Israel's "corresponding steps" would include allowing the International Stabilisation Force to deploy in Gaza, enabling reconstruction.
US negotiator Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday as the Trump administration stepped up efforts to revive a stalled Gaza ceasefire plan.The meeting came days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point, US-backed roadmap aimed at advancing a ceasefire, Hamas disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, is expected to meet Netanyahu on Monday alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, director of the US-created Board of Peace overseeing the ceasefire.Kushner meets Hamas leader in EgyptKushner's more than two-hour meeting with al-Hayya was confirmed by a regional official and a Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.The talks also included officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which have been involved in mediation efforts.The meeting focused on securing Hamas' commitment to the proposed roadmap, particularly its requirement to surrender its weapons, before Kushner's talks with Netanyahu, the regional official said.Hamas later called on mediators and the Board of Peace to “compel” Israel to approve the roadmap and move ahead with its implementation.The Hamas official said the group remained committed to the plan and was waiting for mediators to begin a 14-day negotiation period to establish a timetable for implementation.Hamas demands Israeli withdrawalHamas has said it wants Israel to halt attacks in Gaza and withdraw its forces to the so-called “yellow line” before implementation of the roadmap begins.The yellow line, which was established under the ceasefire arrangement, has never been precisely defined. Israeli forces have moved beyond it and currently control about 60% of Gaza, according to the report.The Hamas official said the group was prepared to discuss disarmament but wanted guarantees on Israel's withdrawal and an end to military operations.Under the proposed roadmap, Hamas would gradually hand over its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with running Gaza. The committee has yet to enter the territory.Hamas, however, has linked surrendering its heaviest weapons to the establishment of a Palestinian state — a demand opposed by Netanyahu's government.Netanyahu rejects US-backed roadmapNetanyahu's rejection of the 15-point proposal has created a rare public disagreement between the Israeli prime minister and the Trump administration.Under the plan, Hamas would give up its weapons while Israel would halt attacks and gradually withdraw from Gaza. The arrangement would also pave the way for reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to separate Israeli troops from areas controlled by the Palestinian committee.Netanyahu has maintained that Israel will not withdraw from any position in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed.That position has effectively stalled other elements of the ceasefire plan.Regional powers accuse Israel of blocking peaceSaudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the ceasefire mediators were among countries that condemned Israel's rejection of the roadmap.In a joint statement, the countries said “Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.”They urged the Board of Peace and the United States to take “immediate and concrete measures” to prevent any party from blocking implementation of the plan.The statement adds pressure on Netanyahu ahead of his meeting with Kushner and other US-backed mediators.Netanyahu faces political pressureNetanyahu is also facing domestic political challenges as he prepares for an October 27 election.His governing coalition includes ministers who have taken a hard-line position on Gaza, making any decision on an Israeli withdrawal politically difficult.The anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that triggered the war is also approaching.Netanyahu's Likud party rejected the c
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