Kushner and Netanyahu Convene to Revise Gaza Peace Plan
Donald Trump’s Middle‑East envoy Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to restart the stalled U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan. The meeting followed a brief talk between Kushner and Hamas’s new leader Khalil al‑Hayya in Egypt, signalling a low‑level attempt at a ceasefire roadmap.
In an official statement, Netanyahu’s office said the two parties agreed that reconstruction work in Gaza would not begin until Hamas is fully disarmed. The prime minister’s spokesperson framed the talks as “deep and constructive” and announced the creation of two working groups: one focused on disarmament and demilitarisation and another tackling sanitation, clean water and public health for Gaza’s residents.
Hamas, meanwhile, requested the Board of Peace – led by Trump – to compel Israel to accept its peace roadmap. The Board’s envoys, including high representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov and former UK prime minister Tony Blair, also met Netanyahu on the same day, underscoring the U.S. administration’s push for a diplomatic settlement.
Despite the diplomatic exchange, many Israelis remain skeptical that Hamas is ready to disarm. Critics complain that a move to employ foreign mediators such as Turkey, Qatar or Egypt could jeopardise security guarantees. Prime Minister Netanyahu, aged 73, has increasingly defied Washington, tightening his focus on a tougher stance in Gaza ahead of the October elections.
The dead‑line for a Gaza peace plan is urgent. Gaza’s population of just over two million has already lost more than 73,000 lives—including 21,280 children—since the October 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel. The U.N. estimates 1.9 million people displaced and ongoing air strikes threaten to reignite hostilities even as the ceasefire remains officially in place.
While the Board of Peace seeks to push forward a phased Israeli troop withdrawal and a new Palestinian civic administration, Netanyahu’s stance remains firm that no territorial concessions can be made until Hamas is fully dismantled. The outcome of these talks will likely hinge on the Israeli public’s perception of security and the international community’s willingness to enforce disarmament measures.
