Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East envoy Jared Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt to advance US President Donald Trump’s new plan for peace in Gaza, but Israel has already rejected the plan.
A Palestinian source told the Qatar-based media outlet Al-Jazeera on Sunday.
The source said that during the meeting, Hamas leaders presented to Kushner various incidents of Israeli ceasefire violations in Gaza.
Kushner said at the meeting that the United States rejects any plan to relocate Gaza residents.
Another official involved in the matter said that the meeting between Hamas and Kushner took place in the Egyptian city of Al-Alamein. The main goal of the meeting was to translate the various conditions of the proposed roadmap into practical and verifiable steps.
The official said, “First, we need to ensure that the ceasefire is maintained. Then, the administrative responsibility of Gaza should be gradually transferred to the ‘National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.’ It should also be ensured that Hamas will have no role in the administration of Gaza in the future.”
The official also said Hamas must relinquish control of Gaza, all weapons and military infrastructure, and ensure that Gaza no longer serves as a “source of terror” for Israel in the future.
Those who were at the meeting
The meeting was attended by Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya. Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi were also present, according to a report by the US news outlet Axios. A senior Turkish official also took part.
Kushner was joined by Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who was also present at the meeting. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is a member of the Board of Peace, was also present.
The meeting comes at a time when the United States, Israel and the Palestinians are at odds over the Gaza ceasefire, the future administration of the Strip and the role of Hamas. Kushner has been in direct talks with Hamas leaders to find a way to implement Trump’s new peace plan.
