Jared Kushner Discusses U.S.-Backed Peace Deal with Hamas in Egypt

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator on Middle East affairs, met with Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday. The focus was on discussing the latest U.S.-backed peace deal aimed at the group’s disarmament and a power transfer to a new governing authority, as reported by a source familiar with the meeting.

The key objective of the meeting was to translate the peace plan, developed by Mr. Trump’s international Board of Peace, into specific, verifiable actions. These actions include maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, transferring governing responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, ensuring Hamas does not hold any future governing role in Gaza, facilitating Israeli military withdrawals, and deploying an international stabilizing force in the region, among other initiatives.

The meeting in Egypt included Hamas’ Khalil al-Hayya and was confirmed by a regional official and a Hamas representative speaking anonymously to the Associated Press due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

Last month, President Trump announced that the Board of Peace had achieved a “historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.” Despite the declaration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the peace plan last week. He asserted there would be no military withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also engaged in discussions with Jared Kushner earlier on Sunday. These discussions, conducted in El Alamein, Egypt, centered on implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Kushner is scheduled to travel to Israel on Monday for meetings with Netanyahu.

A source highlighted that for progress to occur, Hamas must relinquish both governing responsibilities and all military weapons and infrastructure. Additionally, Gaza must not become a terrorist threat to Israel.

Before Monday’s discussions, several regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s rejection of the peace plan. The statement from foreign ministers of Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the ceasefire mediators emphasized that “Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the peace efforts in Gaza” and urged the Board of Peace and the U.S. to take “immediate and concrete measures” to prevent any party from disrupting the plan’s execution.

The U.S.-backed plan involves a 15-point framework, where Israeli forces would exit parts of Gaza as “disarmament is completed,” according to President Trump’s Truth Social post on July 30. An International Stabilization Force, along with a new Palestinian police unit, would take charge of ensuring security.

The longstanding conflict between Israel and Hamas began with Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Since a ceasefire agreement in October 2025, Israel has continued military action on Gaza, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, as per the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry.