US envoy Kushner meets Hamas’ leader in push for a Gaza road map before heading to see Netanyahu

U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner met with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt to advance a stalled Gaza ceasefire and a U.S.-backed 15-point road map. The plan aims for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, with the future of two million Gazans and reconstruction at stake. Kushner's meeting, also attended by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, sought Hamas's commitment to the road map, particularly disarmament. This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan. Kushner is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Monday, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov. Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have condemned Israel's rejection of the road map, holding it responsible for obstructing peace efforts. Hamas has linked its disarmament to the creation of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel's current government rejects.

Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya is traveling to Cairo to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad amid ongoing tensions in Gaza. This visit precedes a Middle East trip by US envoy Jared Kushner, who aims to bridge differences over a Gaza plan rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu dismissed a 15-point proposal where Hamas agreed to surrender its weapons. Hamas is awaiting pressure on Netanyahu to adhere to this roadmap. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in Palestinian casualties, with over 1,250 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since a ceasefire took effect last October.

Jared Kushner is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt to promote a US-backed Board of Peace plan for Gaza. This visit follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a 15-point plan that proposed Hamas disarming and Israel withdrawing from Gaza. A Board of Peace official confirmed Kushner will be accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair to discuss concerns and next steps, aiming to accelerate progress towards a demilitarized Hamas. The plan, part of a late 2025 ceasefire agreement, also calls for Hamas to transfer power to a Palestinian government and for reconstruction efforts. The article also notes ongoing ceasefire violations by Israel and a surge in settler violence in the West Bank.

Jared Kushner, along with officials from the Board of Peace including Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair, will visit Israel and Egypt next week. The purpose of the trip is to advance plans for ending the conflict in Gaza, following a recent deal announced by the Trump administration that faced Israeli opposition. The group will meet in Israel before traveling to Cairo, where a Palestinian technocratic group has been meeting to discuss taking control of Gaza under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. This visit aims to demonstrate a commitment to peace and security in a demilitarized Gaza where Hamas would cede control for reconstruction. The trip comes after Israel dismissed the recent deal, with Prime Minister Netanyahu stating Israel will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed, despite Hamas accepting the plan to decommission weapons.

Senator Ted Cruz has raised concerns about a provision in the Board of Peace's Gaza roadmap that could allocate up to $400 million to address unpaid obligations accumulated during Hamas' rule. Critics, including Cruz, fear this could indirectly benefit Hamas by relieving its financial burdens or allowing it to siphon funds. Board officials counter that the mechanism is designed to allow a successor government to maintain essential services by vetting claims individually and rejecting any that could benefit Hamas. They emphasize that there is no commitment to fund the full $400 million and that any payments would be rigorously analyzed to ensure Hamas does not profit. The Board also intends to attempt recovery of assets believed to have been stolen by Hamas.