Jared Kushner, a key figure in U.S. diplomacy and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, is working to advance a peace plan for Gaza that includes steps toward ceasefire and reconstruction. Hamas has expressed willingness to accept the framework, but it insists on Israel halting its military actions and beginning withdrawal from Gaza before disarmament begins. The plan, backed by the United States, calls for a phased approach where Hamas surrenders its weapons before Israeli forces withdraw from parts of Gaza.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team have agreed to establish two working groups—one on disarmament and another on public health in Gaza, according to the Boston Herald. The Israeli government has emphasized that the demilitarization of Gaza must be completed before any rebuilding begins, according to a report from themedialine.org. Kushner met with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo just a day earlier to discuss disarmament and other key elements of the roadmap, NBC News reported.
The talks also included officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, who are acting as mediators in the process. A major point of disagreement remains whether Israel must withdraw from the 60% of Gaza it currently controls before Hamas hands over its weapons. Hamas has linked surrendering its heaviest weapons to progress toward Palestinian statehood, which Israel’s current leadership does not support.
Until both sides agree on the roadmap, other parts of the ceasefire deal—including reconstruction and deployment of international forces—remain stalled. Netanyahu is under pressure ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, where his coalition includes hardline ministers who oppose any compromise with Hamas. The roadmap also involves the creation of a Palestinian technocratic committee to oversee daily operations in Gaza, but that group has not yet entered the territory.
Kushner’s efforts come after a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and other members of the Board of Peace in Jerusalem. Herzog said that Israel’s security interests must be central to any plan and urged negotiators to continue their work. The plan envisions a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as Hamas surrenders its weapons, but Israel has not committed to leaving the current ceasefire line.
Some regional powers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have publicly criticized Israel’s refusal to follow the roadmap. The situation in Gaza remains tense, with Israeli airstrikes continuing and humanitarian conditions deteriorating. In the meantime, Palestinians continue rebuilding efforts, recycling materials from destroyed buildings.
While some in Gaza hold out hope for peace, others remain skeptical about whether talks will lead to a lasting solution. The path forward remains uncertain as both sides continue to negotiate the critical details of the ceasefire and future governance in Gaza.
IMAGE: Embassy Dedication Ceremony. Photo: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem / Wikimedia, taken 2018-05-14, CC BY 2.0