Jared Kushner visits Middle East to revive Gaza peace plan

US presidential envoy Jared Kushner traveled to Egypt and Israel this week to break the deadlock surrounding the US peace roadmap for the Gaza Strip. The diplomatic mission, accompanied by Peace Council envoy Nickolay Mladenov, followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s August 9 rejection of the 15-point plan, which proposes Hamas disarmament in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces. On Sunday, Kushner met with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt, where the militant group reiterated its commitment to the US plan. Eight nations, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, have condemned Israel’s resistance to the proposal, citing concerns that it undermines regional stability.

Following talks in Israel, reports indicate that Netanyahu and Kushner discussed a potential framework for the disarmament process, including the oversight of weapon decommissioning by a US general. Despite these discussions, Netanyahu maintained his stance that Israeli troops will not withdraw from Gaza until a genuine and verifiable disarmament of Hamas is completed. Hamas, meanwhile, has called on international mediators to force Israel to adhere to the plan's implementation timeline. The situation remains sensitive as Israel approaches legislative elections scheduled for October 27, and there is no confirmation yet on a formal breakthrough.