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 disarm, according to a source familiar with the meeting. The discussion also included Nikolay Mladenov, head of the UN Peacekeeping Council, 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 Peace Council to advance the next phase of a 20-point American peace plan aimed at Gaza, which focuses on Hamas's disarmament and a possible Israeli withdrawal.

Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair are scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day. Kushner's 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. The Israeli government has expressed reservations about the American plan, especially with national elections approaching in October, making the issue politically sensitive.

Last month, Trump announced that his Peace Council had reached an agreement with Hamas to disarm the group and transfer civil and security control in Gaza to a new technocratic Palestinian government. Netanyahu publicly rejected the disarmament plan shortly after, though he assured Kushner in a phone call that he would give the plan a chance. An American official noted Netanyahu also committed to restraining attacks in Gaza to facilitate the disarmament process.

Kushner and Mladenov aim to coordinate with Netanyahu on the plan's implementation in the coming months. A senior American official emphasized a cautious approach, stating, "We are not rushing anywhere. We want to ensure all steps in Gaza are done correctly. We believe our plan is better than the alternative."