Jared Kushner, the U.S. special envoy and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, is meeting with Hamas leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to break the deadlock in Gaza peace negotiations. The meetings come as both sides clash over the sequence of Hamas disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal.
On August 16, Kushner met with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and other officials in Egypt, alongside representatives from mediating countries including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. It is unusual for a senior U.S. official to engage directly with Hamas leadership.
The discussions aim to revive a U.S.-led 15-point roadmap focused on Hamas disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Before meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner reportedly sought to reaffirm Hamas's commitment to the roadmap, particularly regarding disarmament.
While Hamas expressed willingness to implement the roadmap, it insisted that Israel must first cease its attacks on Gaza and withdraw its troops beyond the so-called 'yellow line.' Hamas also urged mediators and the U.S.-led peace committee to pressure Israel to adhere to a ceasefire agreement and approve the roadmap.
Kushner is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on August 17, alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nikolai Mladenov, a senior representative of the peace committee. Netanyahu has stated that he cannot accept the U.S. roadmap and will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have issued a joint statement criticizing Netanyahu's rejection of the roadmap and calling for pressure on him. Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other ceasefire mediators have also joined in the statement.
The two sides are at odds over the sequence of disarmament and withdrawal. The U.S. roadmap proposes that Hamas gradually relinquish its weapons while Israel halts its attacks and withdraws. However, Israel has resumed airstrikes in Gaza, citing Hamas's rearmament.
Internal pressure from hardliners within the Israeli coalition is also complicating Kushner's mediation efforts. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right Minister of National Security, criticized the recent reduction in airstrikes in a podcast, asserting that targeted assassinations should eliminate 30 to 40 individuals each night.
He argued that the focus should not only be on immediate threats, stating that some Palestinian residents are 'not worth living' and 'are not even human.'
Ben-Gvir has reiterated calls for the mass relocation of Palestinian residents and the reconstruction of Jewish settlements in Gaza, claiming, 'We see all of Gaza as ours' and advocating for the establishment of settlements throughout Gaza while encouraging the relocation of as many Palestinians as possible.
As Netanyahu approaches the general elections on October 27, he must consider the hardliners in his coalition and right-wing voters.
Gail Talsir, a political science professor at Hebrew University, noted in the Spanish daily El País that while Gaza is not a central issue in this election, it highlights the gap between Netanyahu's claims and the realities faced by the Israeli public.
Recent polls indicate Netanyahu is trailing behind his main rival, former Israeli Defense Forces Chief Gadi Eisenkot, with only 38% of respondents considering him suitable for the role of prime minister, compared to Eisenkot's 49%.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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