US Middle East envoy Jared Kushner held an unprecedented meeting with a Hamas delegation in Egypt to advance the Trump administration's stalled 15-point Gaza peace roadmap. Following the rare talks on Sunday, August 16, 2026, Kushner traveled to Tel Aviv on Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has publicly rejected the current framework.
The Meeting in Egypt
- The Delegation: Kushner met for over two hours in El-Alamein with a Hamas delegation led by the group's chief, Khalil al-Hayya. The session included Board of Peace Director-General Nickolay Mladenov, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and intelligence officials from mediating nations Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. [1, 2, 3]
- The Objective: The talks focused on translating the peace roadmap into verifiable actions, including decommissioning Hamas's weapons, transferring governing responsibility to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and deploying an international stabilizing force.
- Hamas's Position: Hamas officials stated they remain committed to the gradual disarmament plan but demanded that mediators "compel" Israel to implement its obligations, halt ongoing strikes, and withdraw military forces.
The Meeting with Netanyahu
- The Deadlock: Kushner met with Netanyahu on Monday morning to address Israel's fierce objections to the U.S.-backed framework. [4, 5]
- Israel's Rejection: Netanyahu has adamantly refused the roadmap, insisting that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully and completely disarmed first. The U.S. proposal, conversely, outlines a phased timeline where Hamas gradually relinquishes power and weapons as Israeli troops pull back.
- The Safe Passage Proposal: Behind the scenes, the White House has reportedly been leaning on Israel to grant safe passage to remaining Hamas fighters holed up in subterranean tunnels in exchange for surrendering their weapons. [5]
The diplomatic surge by the Trump administration aims to salvage a broader Gaza ceasefire agreement initially brokered in late 2025, which has been frozen for months over the exact terms and sequencing of Hamas's disarmament. [4, 6]
