Kushner holds talks with Netanyahu after meeting Hamas delegation in Cairo

Jared Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law to US President Donald Trump, is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday as part of US efforts to advance its Gaza peace plan, which Netanyahu has so far rejected.

Kushner's visit comes amid Israeli reservations over the plan, particularly regarding the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

On Sunday, Kushner met with leaders of Hamas in Egypt before heading to Israel.

In late July, Hamas agreed to a US-proposed roadmap to launch the second phase of the peace plan, which includes the group's disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu, however, has officially rejected the document, insisting that Hamas must be "genuinely" disarmed.

Earlier in July, Hamas announced the dissolution of its civil administration in Gaza, expressing its intention to transfer responsibilities to the National Committee for Gaza Administration, established by the "Peace Council" to oversee the transitional phase in the territory.

Following its meeting with Kushner, Hamas called on mediators and the Peace Council to hold Israel accountable for its commitments, end violations, approve the roadmap for the second phase of Trump's plan, and set a timeline for implementation.

Kushner had previously met with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as Nickolay Mladenov, the top Gaza envoy in the "Peace Council" formed by Trump.

He also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Alamein, while Hamas political bureau chief Khalil Al-Hayya met with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad.

Although the United States had previously refused any contact with Hamas, the Trump administration has shown greater openness to direct talks in pursuit of ending the conflict.

The Peace Council announced on Friday that Kushner would visit Israel this week with Mladenov following his trip to Egypt.

In a joint statement, eight Muslim countries—including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—condemned Israel's rejection of the latest roadmap, saying it undermines collective efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Hamas and Israel continue to trade accusations of violating the ceasefire agreement reached in October 2023, after a war broke out following an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.