Kushner meets Hamas leader in Egypt to revive Gaza peace plan

US envoy Jared Kushner met with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in El-Alamein, Egypt, on Sunday, 16 August, to negotiate a disarmament roadmap for the Gaza Strip. The talks represent a direct US push to revive a peace plan that involves Hamas handing over weapons to a new governing committee, a proposal currently rejected by the Israeli government. Disarmament demands and regional mediation Kushner, acting as a representative for US President Donald Trump, demanded "concrete, verifiable steps" toward disarmament during the discussions. Sources familiar with the meeting said Kushner relayed a message that Gaza must cease being a security threat to Israel. The meeting included members of the Board of Peace, such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with representatives from key mediating nations Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Hamas assumed a supportive stance toward the roadmap in July, shortly after al-Hayya took leadership. Following the meeting, the group issued a statement calling on mediators to "compel" Israel to implement the first phase of the US-brokered plan, which includes halting military incursions and establishing a timetable for a second phase. Diplomatic friction and Israeli opposition The diplomatic effort faces significant resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite assurances from the Board of Peace that Israeli troops would not be required to withdraw until Hamas fully disarms, Netanyahu has maintained his opposition to the…