Kushner meets Hamas leader in Egypt to push Trump's Gaza peace plan as Israel rejects deal

Kushner's rare meeting with Hamas

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and Middle East envoy, held a rare meeting with Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday, August 16, as part of a diplomatic push to advance Trump's Gaza peace plan. A Hamas official told The Washington Post that the delegation's discussion with Kushner focused on the plan, which Hamas has accepted, and their objections to Israel's opposition. The meeting was also attended by Board of Peace high representative Nickolay Mladenov and former British prime minister Tony Blair, alongside representatives of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, including Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi.

A source with knowledge of the meeting told Axios the objective was "translating" Hamas' obligations to demilitarize Gaza "into concrete, verifiable steps." These steps include transferring governing authority to a Palestinian technocratic government, ensuring Hamas has no role in Gaza's future governance, and allowing an International Stabilization Force to deploy. Neither Kushner nor Hamas publicly discussed the meeting.

The peace plan and Israel's rejection

Trump announced last month that his Board of Peace had reached an agreement with Hamas aimed at stripping the group of its weapons. The plan was announced on July 30, giving Hamas and Israel two weeks to agree on a timetable and process for implementing Hamas's disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Sources differ on the plan's scope: The Washington Post and BBC describe it as a 15-point plan, while The New York Times and Axios refer to a 20-point plan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan last week, demanding what he called "genuine disarmament" before any Israeli withdrawal.

Israel rejects the Board of Peace's 15-point document on Gaza. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.

The core dispute is sequencing: Hamas and Israel disagree on whether disarmament or withdrawal should come first. Analysts cited by The New York Times said Netanyahu's position reflected Israel's hawkish turn following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, as well as his efforts to appeal to voters ahead of national elections this fall.

Regional response and next steps

Eight Muslim countries (Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia) issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Israel's rejection of the plan, saying it threatened Trump's efforts for peace. Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi on Sunday. A statement carried by Egyptian state broadcaster said the two stressed the need for "all parties to implement their obligations under the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip," referring to a U.S.-brokered deal that took effect on October 10, 2025.

Kushner, Mladenov and Blair are expected to travel to Israel on Monday, August 17, to meet Netanyahu. A Board of Peace official told The Washington Post the delegation aims to "hear the concerns that have been raised" and find ways to advance the agreement.

What is critical is that we both agree on the desired outcome and are finding ways to accelerate progress.

The ceasefire that came into effect last October remains in place, though the Israel Defense Forces have carried out several strikes in Gaza since then, including recent strikes in the Khan Yunis and Nuseirat areas, accusing Hamas of breaking the truce. The Board of Peace was created in the aftermath of the 2025 deal to release the remaining hostages Hamas seized during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.