US President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday as Washington sought to revive efforts to advance its Gaza peace plan.
The meeting came a day after Kushner held talks with Hamas representatives in Cairo, in a rare engagement aimed at breaking the deadlock over the US-backed proposal.
Kushner was accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov, Trump’s Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The US plan calls for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza to surrender their weapons, followed by a phased Israeli withdrawal from the territory. It also proposes the deployment of an International Stabilisation Force and the establishment of a new Palestinian police force to help maintain security.
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However, Netanyahu has rejected key aspects of the proposal, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas and other armed groups are fully disarmed.
Diplomats say Israel is unlikely to make significant concessions on Gaza ahead of its October 27 national election.
The talks in Jerusalem also come amid limited progress towards implementing the wider peace initiative. Israel has continued military operations in Gaza despite agreeing to a ceasefire under Trump’s plan, while Hamas has expressed support for a US-backed roadmap but said implementation depends on Israel fulfilling its own commitments.
Kushner’s meeting with Hamas representatives in Cairo marked his second known engagement with the Palestinian group. He previously held talks with Hamas officials alongside US envoy Steve Witkoff in October 2025, helping secure a deal that led to a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Trump said in July that an agreement had been reached for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Hamas, however, has maintained that Israel must first meet its obligations, including withdrawing its forces and halting attacks.
