- United States envoy Jared Kushner is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for high-stakes talks in Tel Aviv, following intensive efforts aimed at advancing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire roadmap.
- Kushner, accompanied by Board of Peace Director-General and former British Prime Minister, held an unprecedented meeting lasting more than two hours with a Hamas delegation, led by Hamas leader.
- Netanyahu rejected the framework, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed, while Israel continues military operations in Gaza and expands its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- Eight Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkiye, issued a joint statement condemning Israel's rejection of the roadmap and accusing it of delaying efforts to end the genocidal war on Gaza.
- US officials are increasingly frustrated that Israel is trying to buy time, introducing new reservations, and changing the sequencing set out in the roadmap, with Kushner's mandate to close not reopen negotiations.
- The diplomatic push comes as Washington seeks to implement a plan for Gaza approved by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
- Mahjoob Zweiri, a lecturer and expert in Middle East politics at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, stated that the meeting represents a type of American submission to the fact that Hamas is a political force in Palestinian society that cannot be ignored.
- Shadid told Al Jazeera that there is a shift in the American position towards Hamas, indicating that Hamas is no longer the problem in the American reading, but rather part of the solution.
US envoy Jared Kushner's meeting with Hamas leaders marks a significant shift in American diplomacy, as Washington seeks to implement a Gaza roadmap approved by President Trump. The talks, lasting over two hours, reflect a recognition of Hamas as a political force that cannot be ignored.123
Despite this diplomatic push, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the framework, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. This stance continues Israel's military operations in Gaza and expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Mahjoob Zweiri, a Middle East politics expert, noted that the meeting signifies a shift in the American position towards Hamas, indicating that the group is now seen as part of the solution rather than merely a problem. Zweiri stated, “This is a matter Netanyahu was trying to avoid”, highlighting the Israeli prime minister's resistance to US policy.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that US officials are frustrated with Israel's attempts to delay the roadmap's implementation, feeling that “Israel is playing games”. Kushner's mandate is to finalize discussions rather than reopen negotiations, aiming to close the gap between the parties.67
In response to Israel's rejection, eight Arab and Muslim nations condemned the move, warning that it threatens to derail US efforts to end the conflict. They stated that rejecting the framework constitutes an explicit refusal to proceed with the Comprehensive Plan, jeopardizing the extensive efforts exerted by President Trump to bring peace to Gaza.
“The meeting signals a shift in Washington's view, with analyst Shadid saying 'Hamas is no longer the problem in the American reading, but rather part of the solution.' Eight Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, jointly condemned Israel's rejection, warning it 'directly threatens to derail' Trump's efforts.”
