Diplomatic Efforts to Resolve Gaza Ceasefire Stalemate

In a significant diplomatic move, Jared Kushner, a top U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday. The aim was to reinvigorate the stalled Gaza ceasefire plan. Following this, Kushner is scheduled to meet with Israel’s Prime Minister on Monday, working to salvage a 15-point plan supported by the U.S. This plan seeks Hamas’ disarmament in Gaza and Israel’s withdrawal from the war-torn Palestinian region.

Currently, the ceasefire impacts approximately 2 million people living in Gaza, an area heavily controlled by Israeli forces since major military operations ended more than ten months earlier. An earlier meeting in Egypt involving Kushner, fellow envoy Steve Witkoff, and Hamas leaders played a crucial role in establishing the initial ceasefire. However, progress has since stalled due to disputes over Hamas’ disarmament.

The recent meeting in Egypt with Hamas’ Khalil al-Hayya was confirmed by officials from both Hamas and the region. Joining Kushner in discussions were officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, key mediators in the peace process. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed the 15-point plan, representing a rare divergence from the Trump administration, which is Israel’s closest ally.

Kushner, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, director of the U.S.-created Board of Peace, will meet with Netanyahu. Sources familiar with these plans have confirmed this, highlighting the diplomatic sensitivity of the discussions.

“Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza,” stated a joint declaration by regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, condemning Israel’s rejection of the plan. Other signatories include Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other ceasefire mediators.

These countries urged the Board of Peace and the U.S. to act swiftly to prevent further obstructions in implementing the plan. Kushner’s talks with Hamas aimed to confirm the group’s commitment to the roadmap, notably on disarmament, before his discussions with Netanyahu.

A Hamas official stated the group remains committed, pending mediator intervention, to initiate a 14-day negotiation period to finalize a timeline for the plan’s implementation. This period requires unanimous approval for the roadmap to take effect. Hamas also demanded that Israel cease attacks on Gaza and retract its forces to the so-called “yellow line,” which remains vaguely defined. Currently, Israeli forces occupy about 60% of Gaza, with intentions to increase to 70%, tightening their control over Hamas.

The White House chose not to comment on the talks, referring inquiries to the Board of Peace, which has not yet responded. Similarly, the Tony Blair Institute did not provide comments.

Under the new roadmap, Hamas is expected to relinquish its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee managing daily operations. This committee has not yet entered Gaza. However, Hamas ties disarming its heaviest weapons to the creation of a Palestinian state, opposed by Israel’s current government.

The roadmap involves a phased disarming of Hamas and a halt to Israeli military actions, leading to gradual withdrawal from Gaza. Nonetheless, Netanyahu has vowed not to retreat from any position until Hamas is fully disarmed. This has put hold to other ceasefire elements, such as reconstruction and deploying international forces to create a buffer between Israeli forces and committee-controlled areas.

With elections looming on October 27, Netanyahu faces political challenges as he tries to maintain his leadership with a coalition harshly critical of Gaza. Additionally, the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel looms, an event that triggered the war.

Netanyahu’s Likud party dismissed the regional powers’ statement, suggesting that “Arab states want to topple” Netanyahu to benefit centrist challenger Gadi Eisenkot and center-left leader Yair Golan, implying no concessions will be made.