The short version
- Jared Kushner met with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem following a rare discussion with Hamas leadership in Cairo regarding the stalled ceasefire roadmap.
- Israel insists on complete Hamas disarmament before any troop withdrawal or reconstruction begins, while Hamas demands Israeli forces retreat to previous lines first.
- Regional allies including Saudi Arabia and the UAE have condemned Israel’s rejection of the US-backed plan, urging immediate measures to prevent further obstruction.
Jared Kushner, the Middle East envoy for President Donald Trump, engaged in high-stakes shuttle diplomacy this week, holding lengthy discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem just one day after meeting with Hamas leadership in Cairo. The sequence of meetings underscores the intense pressure from Washington to revive a stalled 15-point peace roadmap for Gaza, which Israel rejected last week despite US backing. The stakes remain exceptionally high, involving the safety of approximately two million Palestinians, the future governance of the war-torn enclave, and the potential for reconstruction efforts that have been suspended since the initial rejection.
The core disagreement centers on the sequencing of disarmament and troop withdrawal. Under the proposed roadmap, Hamas would surrender its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee intended to oversee daily operations in Gaza. However, Israel maintains that Hamas must fully disarm and be demilitarized before any Israeli forces withdraw from the territory. Netanyahu’s office stated that reconstruction cannot proceed until this condition is met, emphasizing that demilitarization should be prompt and complete. Conversely, Hamas has agreed to the roadmap but insists that Israel must halt attacks and withdraw to a previously established boundary line before implementation begins.
Kushner’s meeting with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo on Sunday marked a significant diplomatic development, believed to be the first such high-level contact since last year’s ceasefire agreement. The talks reportedly focused on concrete steps for decommissioning weapons, facilitating Israeli withdrawals, and deploying an international stabilizing force. Officials from mediating nations Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey were present during these discussions. Following the meeting, Hamas called on mediators and the US-created Board of Peace to compel Israel to accept the plan, arguing that the roadmap includes a credible pathway toward Palestinian self-determination.
In Jerusalem, Kushner was joined by Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace, for closed-door talks with Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister’s office described the discussions as deep and constructive, announcing the establishment of two working groups. One group will focus on the disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, while the other will address public health issues, including sanitation and clean water access, which affect both Gazans and Israelis. Despite this diplomatic framing, the fundamental impasse remains unresolved, with Israel refusing to withdraw troops until it is satisfied that Hamas poses no future threat.
The political landscape in Israel adds complexity to these negotiations. Netanyahu faces a general election on October 27, during which he seeks to maintain power alongside coalition partners who advocate for a harder line on Gaza. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly called for continued nightly strikes and harsh rhetoric against Gazans, reflecting the internal pressure on the prime minister to avoid concessions. This domestic dynamic makes it difficult for Netanyahu to shift his position, even as he faces criticism from international allies.
Regional powers have responded sharply to Israel’s rejection of the roadmap. A joint statement issued by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the ceasefire mediators condemned Israel for obstructing peace efforts. The signatories argued that Israel now bears responsibility for the delay and called on the Board of Peace and the United States to take immediate and concrete measures to ensure no party can block implementation. This unified front highlights the growing frustration among Arab nations with the prolonged conflict and the lack of progress toward a political solution.
President Trump, who leads the Board of Peace, has signaled his support for the plan’s advancement. In a recent interview, he suggested that Hamas is willing to give up its weapons and urged Israel to cease strikes in Gaza. However, skepticism remains widespread among Israelis regarding Hamas’s readiness to disarm completely. Many fear that any weapons handed over could be reclaimed by the group if not destroyed, rather than stored by a technocratic committee. Additionally, there is opposition within Israel to the involvement of Turkey and Qatar in verifying compliance with the deal’s requirements.
For residents of Gaza, the diplomatic maneuvers offer little immediate relief. While some hope that these efforts will finally end the war sparked by the October 7 attacks, others remain deeply skeptical of the talks. Mohammad Abu al-Qombuz, a resident of a tent camp in Gaza City, dismissed the conferences as lies, calling for a definitive solution that works for everyone. Until an agreement is reached, critical elements of the ceasefire, including reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to separate Israeli troops from committee-controlled areas, remain on hold.
The coming weeks will be crucial as the anniversary of the 2023 attacks approaches and the Israeli election draws nearer. The Board of Peace aims to demonstrate that the peace plan can still move forward despite Netanyahu’s firm rejection. However, bridging the gap between Israel’s security demands and Hamas’s political conditions requires significant diplomatic breakthroughs. With regional tensions high and domestic politics in Israel favoring a tough stance, the path to implementation remains fraught with uncertainty and potential for further escalation.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- PBS NewsHour↗Kushner meets with Netanyahu on Gaza a day after talking with Hamas
- BBC News↗Trump envoy Kushner meets Netanyahu after Hamas talks on peace plan
