Kushner to consult Netanyahu as Gaza peace plan enters critical phase
Diplomatic efforts intensify as Jared Kushner prepares to discuss a US-backed 15-point plan with the Israeli Prime Minister, despite previous Israeli rejection of the proposal’s disarmament conditions.
US envoy Jared Kushner is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, marking a significant diplomatic step following recent discussions with Hamas leaders in Egypt. The meeting aims to revive a US-backed peace plan for Gaza, a framework that the Israeli government has previously rejected.
The talks in El-Alamein, Egypt, took place on Sunday between Kushner and Hamas’s new leader, Khalil al-Hayya. The discussions also involved envoys Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair. During these sessions, Kushner urged Hamas to take concrete, verifiable steps and conveyed the position that Gaza must not be a source of terror for Israel. Hamas voiced its commitment to the plan during the talks, which occurred two weeks after the group endorsed the latest stage of the settlement framework.
The proposed 15-point plan calls for the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israel rejected the framework, citing these conditions as unacceptable. The rejection drew international attention, with reports from BBC World and Deutsche Welle highlighting regional reactions and condemnation from several Muslim countries regarding Israel’s stance on the proposal.
Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, has been central to the diplomatic push for this settlement. The current diplomatic engagement follows a period of escalating regional tensions and stalled negotiations. The involvement of eight Muslim countries in the broader diplomatic context underscores the international interest in the outcome of these talks.
The outcome of the Monday meeting between Kushner and Netanyahu remains uncertain. It is unclear whether Israel will reconsider its rejection of the plan or if the diplomatic efforts will lead to a renewed negotiation process. The stakes are high, with the peace plan’s viability hanging in the balance as key political actors prepare to discuss the next steps in the conflict.
