Drones target Kurdish leaders after Trump names them as key to US talks with IRGC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Jared Kushner on Monday after rare talks between the two sides. Kushner arrived in Israel on Sunday night after holding discussions with Hamas to discuss the implementation of the US-backed Gaza peace plan. The Israeli prime minister's spokesperson confirmed the meeting to the BBC.

Earlier this month, Israel had rejected Trump's 15-point peace plan, which called for Israeli troops to withdraw from Gaza and for the rebuilding of the territory under a new civilian Palestinian administration. This rejection came after the president's Board of Peace said it had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza last month.

US-led Board of Peace envoys Nickolay Mladenov, Tony Blair, and other representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey were also part of the meeting with Netanyahu on Monday. The meeting reportedly focused on concrete actions to decommission Hamas's weapons, ensure Israel withdraws troops from Gaza, and deploy an international stabilizing force in the region.

Many Israelis remain skeptical about Hamas's readiness to disarm. The US-backed plan requires Hamas to give up its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal, with any weapons Hamas gives up to be destroyed rather than stored. However, Israel has insisted on full disarmament before any pullout, and also wants the destroyed weapons to be verified by a Palestinian committee.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for "targeted eliminations" of up to 40 people in Gaza, while Hamas called on mediators and the Board of Peace to "compel" Israel to approve the roadmap for the next steps. Despite the meeting with Kushner, many Israelis remain doubtful about Hamas's sincerity in disarming.