US envoy Kushner visits Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map before Netanyahu meeting

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 AUGUST 2026 —

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map ahead of Netanyahu talks

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Reuters) – U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, held a rare meeting with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday as part of a renewed push to advance a stalled 15-point U.S.-backed road map aimed at securing a Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction plan. Kushner is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with the talks seen as critical to reviving the initiative that has faced repeated setbacks since the ceasefire was brokered over a year ago.

The road map, proposed by the U.S.-created Board of Peace, outlines a phased process where Hamas would disarm while Israel withdraws from Gaza, which has been under Israeli military control since the war escalated in October 2023. The plan also includes the deployment of a Palestinian technocratic committee to oversee daily operations and the eventual reconstruction of the enclave, home to approximately 2 million people. However, progress has stalled over key disputes, including Hamas’ refusal to disarm without guarantees of a future Palestinian state—a demand Israel has rejected under Netanyahu’s government.

Kushner’s meeting with al-Hayya in Cairo, attended by envoys from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, follows a previous round of talks last year that helped secure the initial ceasefire. Regional officials confirmed the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity. Hamas officials stated that the group remains committed to the road map but insisted that Israel must first halt military operations and withdraw to the so-called "yellow line"—a loosely defined border that Israeli forces have since exceeded. Israel currently controls about 60% of Gaza, with Netanyahu previously indicating plans to expand this to 70%.

Netanyahu publicly rejected the road map last week, defying U.S. pressure in a rare public display of disagreement between the allies. The rejection drew condemnation from several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, which issued a joint statement blaming Israel for obstructing peace efforts. The statement called on the Board of Peace and the U.S. to take "immediate and concrete measures" to prevent further delays.

Under the road map, Hamas would gradually surrender its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee, though the committee has yet to enter Gaza. Hamas has tied the disarmament process to the establishment of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel’s government has firmly opposed. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday targeted militants in Khan Younis and Nuseirat, injuring at least five Palestinians, including one who later died from wounds sustained in the attack. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes but did not provide further details.

The outlook remains uncertain, with analysts noting that Netanyahu’s rejection of the road map and Hamas’ demands for preconditions could derail the process entirely. The U.S. and mediating countries are expected to intensify diplomatic efforts in the coming days, but the path to implementation remains fraught with challenges. The White House deferred inquiries to the Board of Peace, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Tony Blair Institute also declined to comment.

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