US Diplomat Jared Kushner Engages in Rare Diplomacy with Hamas Leader in Egypt

CAIRO, EGYPT – In a significant diplomatic effort to revive the stalled Gaza ceasefire, US negotiator Jared Kushner has held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief in Egypt. The meeting aims to salvage the 15-point US-backed road map, which seeks to disarm Hamas in Gaza and Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory.

The road map, which was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, remains a key point of contention in the ongoing peace negotiations. The document calls for Hamas to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian technocratic committee, which has yet to enter Gaza, in exchange for the creation of a Palestinian state.

Kushner’s meeting with the Hamas chief, Khalil al-Hayya, was confirmed by a regional official and a Hamas official, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity due to their unauthorized status to discuss the matter with the press.

The talks are a crucial step in reviving the ceasefire, which has been stalled for months due to disagreements over disarmament. The Hamas official stated that the group is committed to the road map and is waiting for mediators to start the 14-day negotiation period to work out a timetable for implementation.

However, Netanyahu’s stance on the matter remains unchanged. He has repeatedly stated that Israel will not retreat from any position in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed. This stance has left other elements of the ceasefire, including reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to separate Israeli forces from committee-controlled areas, on hold.

The situation is further complicated by the upcoming election on October 27, which Netanyahu is struggling to win. His coalition includes ministers who take a harsh line on Gaza, making it unclear whether he will take decisive steps on the ceasefire before the election.

Ahead of Monday’s meeting between Kushner and Netanyahu, several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, issued a statement condemning Israel’s rejection of the road map. The statement called on the Board of Peace and the US to take immediate and concrete measures to keep any party from obstructing the plan’s implementation.

The road map’s prospects remain uncertain, but the recent meeting between Kushner and the Hamas chief suggests that the US is committed to finding a solution to the Gaza crisis.