Kushner meets Hamas delegation as mediators push Gaza peace plan
The US-backed plan calls for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and reconstruction of the enclave under a new civilian Palestinian administration
Jared Kushner, acting as US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, has held rare talks in Egypt with a Hamas delegation led by its new leader, Khalil al-Hayya, as mediators seek to advance a US-backed plan to end the conflict in Gaza.
According to the BBC, the meeting included international mediators as well as "Board of Peace" envoys Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov. Discussions focused on implementing a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the conflict and establishing a framework for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza.
Terms of the proposal
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The US-backed plan calls for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and reconstruction of the enclave under a new civilian Palestinian administration.
The proposal faces opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected the document and said Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is disarmed.
"Israel rejects the Board of Peace's 15-point document on Gaza. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Kushner, Blair and Mladenov on Monday for further discussions on the proposal.
Regional reaction
Eight Muslim nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have issued a joint statement condemning Israel's rejection of the plan, saying it threatens efforts to secure peace.
The statement comes as international mediators seek to preserve the ceasefire and move towards a longer-term political arrangement for Gaza.
Ceasefire and humanitarian situation
A ceasefire has technically been in place since 10 October last year, but sporadic military strikes have continued.
The United Nations estimates that about 90% of Gaza's population, or roughly 1.9 million people, has been displaced since the war began in October 2023.
The continued displacement and intermittent violence have complicated efforts to move from the ceasefire towards reconstruction and a durable political settlement.
The IDF has continued to report strikes in Gaza, including in the Khan Yunis and Nuseirat areas, where it has described those targeted as "terrorists".
