Kushner meets Netanyahu to break Gaza Board of Peace deadlock

Jared Kushner, son-in-law to US President Donald Trump, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday. The Israeli media reported this meeting, which came after Kushner's previous discussions with Hamas leaders and mediators in Egypt. The purpose of Kushner's visit was to advance a new proposal from the US-led Board of Peace for Gaza.

Accompanying Kushner were the board's envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was a member of the board and had been initially considered to lead it.

Netanyahu, who is running for re-election in October, is campaigning on the platform of national security and views Israel's military occupation of Gaza as part of that. He has dismissed the US-backed plan announced on July 30, which proposed Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza and Hamas disarming in exchange. Despite Hamas' acceptance of the deal, Netanyahu has rejected it.

The plan necessitates Hamas to surrender its heavy weapons, military manufacturing facilities, bases, rocket launchers, and maps of underground tunnels to representatives of the three mediators. These items would then be handed over to a UN-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats.

During a conversation with Fox News on Monday, Trump hinted at progress in getting Hamas to disarm. "We have our own relationship with Hamas. They are giving up their guns," he stated. Kushner is anticipated to communicate to Netanyahu the group's commitment to the disarmament plan, contingent upon Israel's compliance.

Kushner's meeting with Hamas took place in the Egyptian city of Al Alamein, alongside mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, including the head of Egypt's intelligence service, Hassan Rashad. Mladenov, who had previously met Netanyahu in Jerusalem a week prior, has urged Israel to accept the deal to disarm Hamas, emphasizing that it would prevent another attack like the deadly October 7, 2023 incident.

Disarming Hamas is part of Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, which commenced with a ceasefire effective in October of the previous year. However, there has been minimal progress in meeting the conditions of the initial stage, including the unhindered entry of aid, clearing rubble, and initiating rebuilding in Gaza. On Sunday, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt jointly issued a statement condemning Israel's rejection of Palestinian statehood and its hindrance of peace efforts in Gaza and the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has been increasing.