Jared Kushner, serving as Middle East envoy for the Trump administration, held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding efforts to revive a US-backed peace proposal for Gaza. The meeting, which included representatives from the Board of Peace—an international organization created under Trump’s leadership—came as negotiations over a proposed settlement have stalled following Israel’s recent rejection of a 15-point peace framework.
During the discussions, Israeli officials and board representatives established two working groups to address key issues in potential peace negotiations. One group will focus on disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, with both Israeli and Board of Peace representatives emphasizing that any such process must be completed before reconstruction efforts begin. A second working group was formed to address sanitation, clean water, and public health concerns affecting both Gaza and Israel.
Prior to meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner held rare-level talks with Hamas leadership, including the group’s newly appointed leader Khalil al-Hayya, in Egypt. The discussions reportedly centered on concrete measures for decommissioning Hamas weapons, Israeli troop withdrawals, and humanitarian initiatives. Hamas subsequently called on international mediators to pressure Israel into accepting the peace framework. The core disagreement centers on the sequencing and verification of disarmament: Hamas has indicated willingness to surrender weapons in exchange for phased Israeli withdrawal, while Israel demands complete disarmament before any pullout and insists on weapons destruction rather than storage by Palestinian authorities.
Political obstacles to progress remain substantial. Netanyahu faces domestic pressure from coalition members advocating for escalated military operations in Gaza, particularly as Israeli general elections approach in October. A ceasefire agreement has technically remained in place since 10 October last year, though the Israeli Defense Forces have conducted near-daily strikes, resulting in significant casualties according to Gaza health authorities. Regional opposition to Israel’s rejection of the peace plan was expressed by Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia, which warned the decision could undermine broader peace efforts.
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