Kushner Meets Hamas Amid Regional Pressure as US Pushes Israel to Implement Gaza Peace Plan

Ahead of a sensitive visit to Israel in early 2026, Jared Kushner, senior envoy to former US President Donald Trump, is engaging in high-stakes diplomacy aimed at advancing the US-backed peace roadmap for Gaza. A joint statement from eight Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, and Turkey, condemned Israel's rejection of Trump's Gaza plan, holding Israel responsible for delaying peace efforts and urging immediate action to prevent further conflict.

Kushner's visit follows meetings with Hamas representatives in Egypt, where he and UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov rejected Hamas's proposal to store weapons within Gaza, insisting on full disarmament and removal of arms from the territory. Kushner is expected to arrive in Israel with senior Peace Council members, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, to push for concrete, verifiable steps such as halting attacks in Gaza, progressing Israeli troop withdrawals, expanding humanitarian aid, and enabling reconstruction efforts.

The US peace plan involves a 15-point framework calling for cessation of hostilities, Hamas disarmament, transfer of civilian control to a technocratic Palestinian authority, gradual Israeli withdrawal, and deployment of an international stabilization force. However, Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has publicly rejected the plan's current form, demanding full Hamas disarmament before any troop pullback. Washington views Netanyahu's objections as delaying tactics and stresses that the roadmap must be implemented without reopening negotiations.

The upcoming Kushner-Netanyahu meeting is seen as pivotal, with Kushner expected to press Netanyahu to fulfill prior commitments amid rising tensions in the West Bank and southern Lebanon. The US-led coalition backing the plan includes regional mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, despite Israeli opposition to the latter two's involvement. Hamas has expressed willingness to participate in Palestinian elections and transition into a political party, contingent on Israeli withdrawal and guarantees for the plan's enforcement.

The US administration views Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank as interconnected arenas requiring coordinated stabilization efforts. Kushner's mission is to finalize agreements and ensure immediate implementation, signaling a shift from negotiation to execution. The success of this initiative may hinge on overcoming Israeli political constraints ahead of upcoming elections and managing complex regional dynamics.