Jared Kushner, the Middle East envoy who is U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and the U.S. lead negotiator, held an unusual meeting on the 16th (local time) with leaders of the Palestinian militant faction Hamas to break the deadlock in Gaza cease-fire talks.
According to Agence France-Presse, Envoy Kushner met that day in El Alamein, an Egyptian Mediterranean coastal city, with a Hamas delegation that included Khalil al-Hayya, who became Hamas chief last month, with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials in attendance.
A source familiar with the talks said Hamas reaffirmed in this meeting its intent to implement the U.S.-led cease-fire agreement. However, Hamas was said to have demanded that, before moving to implement the second-phase roadmap such as disarmament, Israel halt its attacks on Gaza and withdraw beyond the so-called "yellow line" that delineates territory.
The meeting was arranged to revive the U.S.-led "15-point roadmap," centered on disarming Hamas in Gaza and withdrawing Israeli forces. A regional official said the purpose was for Envoy Kushner to obtain from Hamas, before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assurances on the roadmap, especially on disarmament.
Hamas issued a statement that day urging the peace committee and mediator countries to press Israel to fulfill its obligations under the first-phase agreement, halt attacks and incursions, and approve the second-phase roadmap of the U.S.-mediated cease-fire plan.
Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war have continued for more than 10 months since a cease-fire was reached last year, but have seen no progress due to differences over the key issues of Hamas disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Prime Minister Netanyahu voiced opposition to the U.S. roadmap last week. The roadmap calls for Hamas to give up its weapons in stages while the Israeli military halts attacks and withdraws from Gaza. In contrast, Netanyahu's position is that Israeli forces will not withdraw from positions inside Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed.
Envoy Kushner is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu on the 17th to seek a breakthrough in the peace plan, which has drifted due to Israel's opposition. However, with a general election coming in Oct., it is unclear whether the talks will lead to real progress, as Netanyahu is mindful of right-wing coalition partners and right-leaning voters.
Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), earlier issued a joint statement condemning Israel's rejection of the roadmap and ramping up pressure. Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and countries mediating the cease-fire also joined the statement.
The White House referred questions about Envoy Kushner's meeting with Hamas to the peace committee, but the committee did not immediately comment.