Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, recently had a meeting in Cairo with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Hamas officials. This meeting, according to diplomatic sources, focused on reaffirming the commitment to demilitarizing Gaza.
Diplomatic sources described the 90-minute discussion with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Haya as “very productive.” During the meeting, Kushner expressed gratitude to Hamas leaders for their collaboration in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages and their ongoing commitment to disarmament. Reports suggest that Hamas leaders appreciated the humanitarian efforts extended by the Trump administration.
The main goal of the conference was to put into action a plan proposed by President Trump’s Commission on International Peace. This plan outlines several steps, including maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, facilitating the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and establishing an international stabilization force in the region. It also involves handing governance duties over to a technocratic and non-political body aimed at ensuring that Hamas will not influence future governance in the area. Various other topics were also discussed.
An anonymous source noted, “Mr. Kushner stressed to Hamas leaders that the hurdles are high because Israel does not trust Hamas to actually disarm. He indicated there is no room for negotiation on disarmament. However, if Hamas demonstrates real steps toward this goal, the United States will work to encourage Israel to take reciprocal actions.”
Hamas voiced concerns regarding ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. In response, Kushner pointed out that it took four months to convince them to agree to disarm, according to the sources familiar with the discussions.
This meeting marked Kushner’s first interaction with Hamas leaders since the deal concerning Gaza was signed in October. Additional attendees included Nikolai Mladenov, a senior representative from the Peace Committee, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other senior advisors.
The context of this meeting follows President Trump’s announcement in late July about an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in the region.
President Trump stated on Truth Social, “This agreement is an important step toward Gaza eventually being ruled by a new Palestinian Authority that will work closely with the Peace Committee to support the Palestinian people. This is a major milestone in the implementation of Trump’s 20-Point Plan. The agreement will unfold through carefully structured steps. After disarmament, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force, in collaboration with a new Palestinian police force, will ensure the safety of Gaza’s residents and its neighbors.”
Kushner and Mladenov are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday.
