Kushner meets Hamas in Egypt to push Gaza disarmament

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and Middle East envoy, held a rare meeting with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday, pressing the militant group to take concrete steps toward disarmament as the U.S. attempts to salvage a stalled Gaza peace process opposed by Israel.axios+1

The meeting in the Mediterranean coastal city of El-Alamein marked Kushner's first direct encounter with Hamas leadership since the ceasefire agreement ending the Gaza war was signed last October. Board of Peace high representative Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair joined Kushner, while Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi, and a senior Turkish official also attended.npr+1

Disarmament Demands and Hamas Response

A source familiar with the meeting told Axios that the objective was "translating" Hamas's obligations to demilitarize Gaza "into concrete, verifiable steps," including transferring governing authority to a Palestinian technocratic government and ensuring Hamas has no role in Gaza's future governance. The Board of Peace wants Hamas to begin decommissioning weapons and military infrastructure and allow an International Stabilization Force to deploy.axios

Hamas reiterated its commitment to the deal, according to diplomatic sources who spoke to AFP. However, Hamas has linked the surrender of its heaviest weapons to the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel's current government rejects. A Hamas official said the group demanded Israel halt attacks and withdraw to the "yellow line" dividing Gaza before implementation begins.aljazeera+1

Netanyahu Meeting and Regional Pressure

Kushner is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, along with Mladenov and Blair, to discuss "corresponding steps" Israel must take. Netanyahu on August 9 rejected Trump's 15-point roadmap as "unacceptable," vowing no Israeli withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed.reuters+2

Several regional powers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Israel's rejection, saying "Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza." Netanyahu's Likud party dismissed the criticism, accusing Arab states of seeking to weaken the prime minister ahead of Israel's October 27 election.npr

Israel continued airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, injuring several Palestinians in strikes on Khan Younis and the Nuseirat refugee camp, which the military said targeted militants. More than 1,250 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October ceasefire took effect, according to Gaza health authorities whose figures the United Nations considers reliable.bbc+1