Jared Kushner Meets Hamas Leaders in Egypt to Push Disarmament Plan Ahead of Israel Visit

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's envoy, met with senior Hamas officials in Egypt on August 16 to pressure them into implementing their commitment to disarmament, according to a source familiar with the meeting. The discussion also included Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This was Kushner's first meeting with Hamas leaders since the ceasefire agreement in Gaza last October.

The meeting took place amid ongoing efforts by the White House and the Trump administration's peace council to advance the next phase of a 20-point American peace plan for Gaza, which focuses on Hamas's disarmament and a potential Israeli withdrawal. Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair are scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day.

Kushner's upcoming visit to Israel will be his first since January and comes as the Trump administration seeks to push forward the Gaza plan despite Netanyahu's public skepticism. Netanyahu has expressed reservations about the plan amid political pressures ahead of Israel's October elections but has privately committed to restraining military actions in Gaza to facilitate the disarmament process.

An American official noted that while Israel agrees on the strategic goal, it has concerns about the plan's details, prompting ongoing coordination efforts. The official emphasized a cautious approach to ensure all steps in Gaza are properly implemented, asserting confidence that their plan is preferable to alternatives.

Last month, President Trump announced that his peace council had reached an agreement with Hamas for disarmament and transferring civilian and security control in Gaza to a new technocratic Palestinian government. Netanyahu's public rejection of the plan followed shortly after a phone call with Kushner, where he promised to give the plan a chance despite his doubts.