Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East envoy, has met with Hamas leaders in Egypt to advance the proposed peace plan for the Gaza Strip. Israel, however, has rejected the plan announced by Trump.
A Palestinian source disclosed the meeting to Al Jazeera on Sunday. The source said Hamas leaders informed Kushner during the meeting about Israel’s violations of the ceasefire in Gaza. Kushner, in turn, said the United States does not support any plan to relocate Gaza’s residents elsewhere.
Another official familiar with the matter told Al Jazeera that the meeting between Hamas and Kushner took place in the city of Alamein, Egypt. Discussions focused on what steps would be taken to implement Trump’s proposed plan and how those steps would be verified.
The official said the steps include maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, beginning the transfer of all authority over administering the territory to a national committee formed for Gaza, and ensuring Hamas plays no future role in Gaza’s administration.
The source said Hamas must relinquish governing authority over Gaza along with all weapons and military infrastructure. Gaza, the source said, must never again become a source of “terrorism” for Israel.
Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya was present at the meeting. US outlet Axios reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, and a senior Turkish official were also present.
Nikolai Mladenov, envoy for the Peace Board formed to implement Trump’s peace plan, and board member and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, also joined the meeting with Kushner.
Kushner’s visit to Israel and Egypt is believed to have been aimed at narrowing differences that have emerged between the United States and Israel over Trump’s Gaza plan. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump’s plan “unacceptable” for Israel.
Call to force Israel to accept Gaza plan
In a statement Sunday, Hamas said it had made clear at the meeting that it accepts Trump’s plan. This was conveyed at a meeting with representatives of the countries mediating and guaranteeing the Gaza ceasefire.
Hamas said it has fully complied with the terms of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. However, it said, Israel has failed to implement this phase. Instead, it said, Israel has expanded its ground operations, deepening the humanitarian crisis, and has openly rejected the plan.
Hamas called on the mediating countries and the Peace Board to properly fulfill their responsibilities. It also called for forcing Israel to implement all its commitments under the first phase, halt ceasefire violations, stop killings and military operations, and agree to and establish a timeline for implementing the second phase of Trump’s plan.
The United States has long avoided direct contact with Hamas. Washington has also designated Hamas a “terrorist organization.” However, in hopes of ending Israel’s war in Gaza, the Trump administration has recently shown greater interest in direct contact with Hamas than before.
Reuters reported that Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya also held a separate meeting Sunday with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad.
Following the meeting with Hamas, Kushner met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The Egyptian president’s office said the meeting covered relations between the two countries in addition to Gaza. Al-Sisi highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries and praised ongoing cooperation on matters of shared interest. Kushner also praised close coordination with Egypt and expressed gratitude for Sisi’s role in establishing regional peace and stability.
Following Israel’s rejection of Trump’s Gaza plan, the foreign ministers of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia condemned the move Sunday. They described Israel’s decision as a direct blow to the US-led peace effort and to efforts to establish a Palestinian state.
The foreign ministers warned that if Israel blocks the path to implementing the plan, full responsibility will rest with Israel. They also called on Washington to force Israel to comply with the plan. They said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on 1967 borders, could bring long-term stability. They also called on the Peace Board to swiftly address any obstacles to implementing the peace plan.
A senior Israeli official said Kushner and Peace Board envoy Mladenov are scheduled to meet with Netanyahu today, Monday. The official said Israel is concerned about Washington’s demand to halt targeted killings of Hamas fighters in Gaza.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report