JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jared Kushner has arrived in Israel and is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, as diplomatic efforts to advance a US-backed Gaza peace plan continue.
Kushner’s visit comes shortly after he held rare discussions with representatives of Hamas to discuss the implementation of the proposed Gaza peace framework. The talks reflect renewed US efforts to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas and move negotiations toward the next stage.
The diplomatic push follows an announcement by Trump’s Board of Peace that an agreement had been reached for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. The proposal is part of a broader plan aimed at ending the conflict and establishing a new political and administrative framework for the territory.
However, Israel has rejected the 15-point plan, which also calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the reconstruction of the territory under a new civilian Palestinian administration. The Israeli position has created another major obstacle to efforts to implement the proposed roadmap.
Eight Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Israel’s rejection of the plan and called for greater international efforts to advance a political solution to the Gaza conflict.
Trump leads the Board of Peace, an international organisation initially established with a focus on achieving peace in Gaza but later expanded to address conflicts in other parts of the world.
A Palestinian official said Kushner met in Egypt with a Hamas delegation led by the group’s new leader, Khalil al-Hayya. The meeting was significant because direct or indirect discussions involving senior Hamas figures remain a sensitive part of international efforts to reach an agreement over Gaza.
Hamas later called on mediators and the Board of Peace to pressure Israel into approving the proposed roadmap and moving forward with the next stage of negotiations.
Kushner’s expected meeting with Netanyahu comes at a politically sensitive moment for the Israeli prime minister. Netanyahu faces a difficult election campaign in October as he seeks to retain power while managing a governing coalition that includes ministers advocating a tougher approach toward Gaza.
The political pressure inside Israel could complicate efforts to reach agreement on the US-backed proposal, particularly over issues including the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the future administration of Gaza and the disarmament of armed groups.
The latest diplomatic activity highlights the significant challenges facing efforts to establish a lasting settlement. While Washington is pushing for implementation of the proposed peace framework, disagreements between Israel and Hamas over security, governance and Gaza’s future remain major obstacles.
Kushner’s visit is therefore being closely watched as the US seeks to revive negotiations and determine whether the parties can make progress toward implementing the proposed Gaza peace plan.
