Jared Kushner, Chief of the US “Board of Peace,” held talks with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in El-Alamein, Egypt, aiming to push forward the Trump administration’s Gaza peace blueprint—even as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintain military pressure in the Gaza Strip.
## First High-Level Contact Since Ceasefire
This meeting marked Kushner’s first direct engagement with Hayya and other senior Hamas officials since October 2025, when a ceasefire and hostage release accord was finalized. The October deal set the stage for peace efforts in Gaza.
Kushner’s goal: to persuade Hamas to initiate the disarmament measures outlined in the peace roadmap, which the group formally accepted on July 30.
## Hamas’s Preconditions
Hamas reiterated its willingness to comply with the disarmament plan—provided that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly agrees to its terms.
Furthermore, the group has requested the Board of Peace to require Israel’s formal commitment. Hamas insists that only once Israel demonstrates its own obligations will it begin handing over its weaponry.
## Assurances and Flexibility
At the meeting, Kushner emphasized that once Hamas starts disarming, the Board of Peace would press Israel to stop strikes in Gaza and gradually withdraw from the territory.
Officially, Netanyahu remains firm: Israel will not begin withdrawing until Hamas is “completely disarmed.” Nevertheless, a source within the Board of Peace says the Prime Minister has shown signs of private openness to compromise.
## Other Key Discussions
Kushner urged Hamas to stop its overt show of force in Gaza, which includes armed and uniformed members patrolling cities. Checks on public displays of force and signs of control were central to this part of the discussion.
He also advocated for strengthening the governance capacity of the newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a Palestinian technocratic body overseen by the Board of Peace. Hamas is expected to hand over weapons to this entity if disarmament proceeds.
Despite hopes that weapons transfers from Hamas to the NCAG might begin soon, they’re unlikely to start before year’s end due to the slow pace of training required for the International Stabilization Force assisting with disarmament.
## Politically Constrained Timeline
The Israeli election on October 27, 2026, looms large over the entire process. Diplomats believe significant progress is unlikely before then. After the election, forming the next government is expected to take another one to two months—further delaying implementation.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank, has not been part of any recent senior-level meetings with Kushner or other top Trump administration envoys.
## Meetings Beyond Hamas
In Egypt, Kushner also met President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Meanwhile, Hayya viewed Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. Egypt issued statements underlining that all parties must honor the commitments made in the October 2025 ceasefire.
Kushner is scheduled to meet Netanyahu in Israel on Monday, accompanied by envoys Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair.
## Humanitarian Elements & Infrastructure
Kushner plans to press Netanyahu on humanitarian obligations from the ceasefire deal. These include allowing 600 aid trucks daily into Gaza and repairing essential infrastructure.
He’ll also push for the deployment of the International Stabilization Force and the establishment of a pilot humanitarian zone in Rafah, which was severely affected during earlier phases of the conflict.
Separately, the issue known as the “Yellow Line” has sparked controversy. Israel shifted its territorial control closer to the coast, covering more than 60 percent of Gaza—contradicting the ceasefire agreement that allowed it control of roughly 53 percent. Yet, Kushner is not expected to raise this with Netanyahu, according to diplomats.
## Resurgent Strikes
Although there was a temporary lull in airstrikes, the IDF resumed its operations in recent days.
On Sunday, coordinated air strikes targeted a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative in Khan Younis and a Hamas operative in Nuseirat, both reportedly preparing for attacks. Civilians in those areas were injured.
The IDF also reported that one of its tanks near the Yellow Line was hit by a Hamas explosive device—a violation of the ceasefire, in their view. No IDF injuries were reported.
## Regional Outcry
Several Muslim-majority nations—including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia—issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s refusal to accept the comprehensive peace plan. They warned that rejection threatens Trump’s renewed efforts to end the conflict.
These countries urged the United States to step in and enforce Israel’s obligations under the peace roadmap, saying non-compliance could lead to serious consequences on the ground.
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