Trump's envoys meet mediators, Israel strikes Gaza

On Sunday, August 16, Donald Trump's envoys convened with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators in Cairo, as part of efforts to advance the US president's Gaza peace plan. The discussions involved Trump's envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as Trump's Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, according to a diplomatic source. Hamas officials were also present at some of these meetings.

Israeli officials stated that Jared Kushner and Mladenov were set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Netanyahu had previously expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump's Gaza peace roadmap, deeming it unacceptable. Israel is concerned about the US demand to cease targeted assassinations of Hamas militants in Gaza, as the group is rebuilding its forces.

Trump's peace plan calls for an immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza, the disarming of Hamas as Israeli troops withdraw from the enclave, and the reconstruction of Gaza under a new civilian Palestinian administration. However, Israel resumed airstrikes in recent days after easing its attacks earlier this month.

The Israeli military reported striking two Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants in Khan Younis and Nuseirat, resulting in at least five Palestinians being wounded, with one fatality. Another airstrike targeted an apartment in Nuseirat camp, wounding several people. Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya met with Egypt's intelligence chief in Cairo, where he would inform mediators about alleged Israeli ceasefire violations.

Five Arab countries, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia condemned Israel's rejection of the peace plan, stating it threatens Trump's efforts to end the war. The joint statement expressed their disagreement with Israel's refusal to meet its commitments, including withdrawing forces and halting attacks. Netanyahu's Likud party, facing poll struggles ahead of the Oct 27 election, suggested Arab countries aim to weaken Netanyahu and his political rivals.

Hamas urged mediators and the Board of Peace to compel Israel to adhere to the plan's first phase, including ending ceasefire violations and approving the roadmap for the second phase.