Kushner Meets Hamas Leader Ahead of Netanyahu Talks on Gaza
Trump's son-in-law held a rare two-hour meeting with Hamas's political chief in Egypt as mediators push to salvage a stalled Gaza ceasefire road map.
Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and envoy, met on Sunday with Hamas's political chief, Khalil al-Hayya, in Egypt, part of a renewed diplomatic push to revive a stalled Gaza ceasefire plan. Kushner is set to meet Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who last week publicly rejected a 15-point, U.S.-backed road map for Gaza.
The more than two-hour meeting, confirmed by a regional official and a Hamas official speaking anonymously, also included fellow U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and officials from mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. Hamas later called on mediators and the U.S.-created Board of Peace to "compel" Israel to approve the road map.
At stake is the fate of roughly 2 million people in Gaza and the reconstruction of the enclave, now largely controlled by Israeli forces more than 10 months after the ceasefire halted major fighting. A similar meeting between Kushner, Witkoff and Hamas leaders last year helped secure that ceasefire, though progress since has stalled over Hamas's disarmament.
A regional official said Kushner sought to confirm Hamas's commitment to the road map, particularly disarmament, before meeting Netanyahu. A Hamas official said the group is committed and awaiting a 14-day negotiation period to set an implementation timetable, but that its leader demanded Israel halt attacks and withdraw to the "yellow line" dividing Gaza — territory Israeli forces have moved beyond, now controlling about 60% of the strip.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers issued a joint statement condemning Israel's rejection of the plan, saying Israel "now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza." Netanyahu's Likud party responded by accusing Arab states of trying to topple him.
Since the October 2025 ceasefire, Israel has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded over 4,100, according to Gaza's health ministry. Netanyahu, who says Israel won't withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed, faces an election on October 27.
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