Kushner meets Hamas leader in Egypt to discuss Gaza peace plan
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Jared Kushner, has held rare direct talks with Hamas to discuss the implementation of the US-backed Gaza peace plan, a Palestinian official told the BBC. The meeting took place in Egypt on Sunday, with Kushner meeting a delegation led by Hamas's new leader, Khalil al-Hayya.
This is believed to be the first engagement at this level since the ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip last year. The talks come amid a fragile political environment, with Israel having publicly rejected the 15-point plan put forward by the Board of Peace, an international organisation led by Trump.
Last month, the Board of Peace announced it had reached an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. The plan also calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the rebuilding of Gaza under a new civilian Palestinian administration. However, Israel's rejection last week has cast doubt on the feasibility of the plan.
According to reports, the Board of Peace envoys Nickolai Mladenov and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were also present at the meeting, along with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, which have all mediated in the peace efforts. No official statement has been released about the discussions, but they reportedly focused on concrete actions to decommission Hamas's weapons, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and humanitarian efforts.
In a separate development, eight Muslim countries issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Israel's rejection of the peace plan, calling for renewed international efforts to resolve the conflict. The statement did not explicitly reference the Kushner-Hamas meeting.
The Board of Peace was created as an international organisation originally intended to bring peace to Gaza, but its mandate was later expanded to address conflicts worldwide. Trump's direct involvement has been a controversial aspect of the organisation, with critics questioning the neutrality of a plan overseen by a US president with close ties to Israel.
The meeting between Kushner and Hamas marks a significant diplomatic move, as the US has historically avoided direct engagement with the group, which it designates as a terrorist organisation. However, the talks remain exploratory, and no breakthrough has been publicly announced.
This development underscores the complex dynamics of the Gaza peace process, which has seen numerous failed attempts over the years. The international community will be watching closely to see whether this rare dialogue can translate into a tangible reduction in hostilities and a credible pathway to reconstruction for the people of Gaza.
