Jared Kushner Meets with Hamas Leaders in Egypt to Discuss U.S. Peace Deal

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator on Middle East affairs, held discussions with Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday. They met to deliberate over the latest U.S.-backed peace plan aimed at disarmament and establishing a new governance structure for Gaza. A source familiar with the meeting shared details with CBS News.

The meeting’s primary goal was to convert the peace plan, created by President Trump’s international Board of Peace, into tangible actions. This included maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, transferring governmental responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and ensuring Hamas exits governance roles. Additionally, the plan involves facilitating Israeli withdrawals and deploying an international stabilization force in the region.

The meeting with Hamas’ Khalil al-Hayya was a rare occurrence and was also confirmed by a regional official and a Hamas official, both of whom requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Last month, President Trump described the Board of Peace’s agreement as a complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected this plan, asserting that there would be no military withdrawal until full disarmament of Hamas is verified.

In a separate meeting earlier on Sunday, Kushner discussed the Gaza ceasefire agreement’s implementation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Following this, Kushner is set to visit Israel on Monday for discussions with Netanyahu.

A source emphasized that for progress to occur, Hamas must surrender all governing authority, relinquish weapons, and military infrastructure. Gaza should not remain a threat to Israel.

In anticipation of the Israeli meeting, countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates criticized Israel’s rejection of the peace plan. A statement from several foreign ministers, including those from Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, called for immediate actions to prevent any party from blocking the plan’s execution.

The U.S.-backed 15-point plan specifies that Israeli forces withdraw from parts of Gaza once Hamas’ disarmament is complete. A new Palestinian police force alongside an International Stabilization Force would handle security responsibilities.

The ongoing conflict initiated on October 7, 2023, with a terrorist attack by Hamas on southern Israel. Since the ceasefire in October 2025, Israel’s continuous firings on Gaza have resulted in over 1,200 deaths, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry.