Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s envoy, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. This meeting follows Kushner’s discussions with Hamas leaders as he seeks to revive a Gaza peace plan that Israel has rejected thus far. The developments come amid ongoing tensions in the region, highlighting the complexities of negotiating peace.
Kushner Pushes for Disarmament and Governance Changes from Hamas
Jared Kushner has requested that Hamas confirm its commitment to disarmament, a crucial demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This follows the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which escalated the ongoing Gaza conflict. Kushner also urged Hamas to renounce any future governance role in Palestinian territories.
In related developments, Israeli media indicated that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, now a senior official with the Board of Peace, is expected to attend discussions regarding the Gaza situation. A Hamas representative stated that the group expressed its commitment to the Gaza plan and called for increased pressure on Netanyahu.
“Hamas is demanding that the US administration… pressure Netanyahu’s government to adhere to and implement the roadmap agreement. The Trump administration has become increasingly comfortable with engaging directly with Hamas in the hope of ending the devastating conflict, and negotiated the October ceasefire agreement that led to the release of remaining Israeli hostages. In an interview, Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right national security minister in Netanyahu’s cabinet, called for mass killings in Gaza. Its figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. Kushner was joined in the Jerusalem meeting with Mr. Netanyahu by Nickolay Mladenov, Mr.
Israeli operations have killed at least 1,265 Palestinians since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, according to figures by Gaza’s health ministry, which is under Hamas. President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday (August 17, 2026), a day after holding a rare meeting with Hamas’ leader in Cairo in a bid to push forward the U.S. president’s Gaza plan.
Hamas is awaiting the US administration’s response regarding Israel’s position on the agreement,” the Hamas official told AFP. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, has said the country’s military will only withdraw once Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza have been completely disarmed. Trump’s Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, the two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
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