In brief
Jared Kushner, the US president’s middle‑east envoy, had a rare meeting in Egypt with a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al‑Hayya, aiming to implement the Board of Peace’s Gaza plan. The plan calls for a complete disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops and the establishment of a civilian Palestinian administration. While Israel has rejected the 15‑point proposal, several Muslim‑led states criticised the decision, supporting the US effort. The talks are a significant step, following a ceasefire that has stalled due to ongoing hostilities and widespread displacement.
US president Donald Trump’s middle‑east envoy Jared Kushner met a delegation led by Hamas chief Khalil al‑Hayya in Egypt this past Sunday, a step the Palestinian press described as unprecedented since the 2023 cease‑fire.
The meeting is part of a broader scheme introduced by Trump’s Board of Peace, an international body established to broker peace in Gaza and other conflicts. Last month the Board released a 15‑point plan that calls for full disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, Israeli troop withdrawal, and rebuilding of Gaza under a new civilian Palestinian administration.
Israel has outright rejected the proposal, insisting that no withdrawal can occur until Hamas is fully disarmed. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the defense forces will stay until the group's weapons are neutralised.
In the meantime, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi joined the talks, and other Arab states like the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia expressed concern over Israel’s rejection, arguing that the plan is the best avenue for lasting peace.
The ceasefire that began on 10 October remains in place, but Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza, with recent operations targeting alleged terrorist positions in Khan Yunis and Nuseirat. The war has left more than 73,000 people dead and millions displaced.
Kushner’s meeting is the first at this level in the region since the cease‑fire agreement, while reports suggest that Board of Peace members Nickolai Mladenov and former UK prime minister Tony Blair were also present. The discussion focused on concrete steps to cut Hamas’s armament and prepare for the ultimate goal of a stable, independent Gaza.
