Kushner holds talks with Netanyahu after meeting Hamas delegation in Cairo

Jared Kushner, the senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, is in Israel to discuss the Gaza peace plan with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes after Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Cairo, Egypt. The US peace plan, which includes Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, has been met with Israeli skepticism, particularly over the disarming of Hamas.

On Sunday, Kushner had already met with Hamas leaders in Egypt. In July, Hamas agreed to launch the second phase of the peace plan, which involves disarming and withdrawing Israeli forces. However, Netanyahu has rejected the plan, demanding "genuine" disarmament from Hamas. Following his meeting with Kushner, Hamas called for Israel to be held accountable for its commitments and for a timeline for the roadmap's implementation.

Kushner has also met with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as the US envoy to the Peace Council, Nickolay Mladenov. Despite the US previously not contacting Hamas, the Trump administration has shown a willingness to engage directly to end the conflict. Eight Muslim countries have condemned Israel's rejection of the latest roadmap, alleging it hinders their collective pursuit of a just and enduring peace.

The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel has been marred by accusations of ceasefire violations since October 2023, following a Hamas assault on Israeli soil.