Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and his envoy, met Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein on Sunday. The discussion focused on advancing a US-backed Gaza peace plan previously rejected by Israel. Kushner is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
This was Kushner’s second known meeting with Hamas representatives, the group behind the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Earlier talks occurred in October 2025 alongside envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas reaffirmed support for the US plan but stated that progress depends on Israel first fulfilling its commitments, such as troop withdrawal and ending attacks in Gaza. The group also endorsed a roadmap for the ceasefire’s second phase.
Hamas urged mediators and the Board of Peace to press Israel to complete first-phase obligations, approve the second-phase roadmap, and set an implementation timetable. Officials told Kushner they would start disarmament only after Netanyahu publicly commits to the terms.
Kushner emphasized that Hamas must take concrete disarmament steps, transfer authority to a Palestinian technocratic government, and exclude itself from future governance in Gaza. In return, the US would encourage Israel to respond with measures including deployment of an international force, reconstruction in Rafah, and initial troop pullbacks.
