Peace on Israel’s Terms: Kushner and Netanyahu Seek to Reshape Gaza Plan

The US-led Gaza peace process is facing renewed uncertainty after Jared Kushner met Hamas representatives in Egypt before holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the meeting in El-Alamein, the Hamas delegation reportedly raised concerns over continued Israeli ceasefire violations, restrictions on humanitarian aid, the limited opening of the Rafah crossing and Israel’s continued military presence in Gaza. The article says Israel now controls roughly 70 percent of the enclave and that more than 1,260 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.

Instead of securing Israeli compliance with the existing framework, Kushner reportedly pressed Hamas to make further concessions, particularly on disarmament. He then met Netanyahu, with both sides announcing that progress on Hamas disarmament and the next stage of the peace plan could begin within a month.

Under the revised approach described in the article, Hamas would have to surrender and permanently dismantle its weapons before Gaza’s reconstruction could begin. Israel would also retain the option of resuming military operations, while its own withdrawal would come later.

Critics argue that this reverses the original phased approach, in which Palestinian disarmament and political changes were linked to Israeli withdrawal and an end to attacks. Giving Israel the authority to decide whether Hamas has been fully disarmed could allow the process to remain stalled indefinitely.

The article concludes that repeatedly changing the terms after Israeli rejection risks undermining US credibility as a mediator. Instead of creating a reciprocal path toward peace, the revised framework could place greater pressure on Palestinians while giving Israel additional leverage over the process.