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Jared Kushner meets with Hamas leaders in Egypt to discuss Gaza peace plan

Jared Kushner met with Hamas and Egyptian leaders to discuss a Gaza peace road map involving disarmament and a transfer of power.

Published August 16, 2026 at 6:23 PM EDT

The short answer

Jared Kushner met with Hamas and Egyptian leaders to discuss a Gaza peace road map involving disarmament and a transfer of power. Jared Kushner, adviser and son-in-law to President Trump, met with Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday to discuss a U. S.

Jared Kushner meets with Hamas leaders in Egypt to discuss Gaza peace plan

The Facts

Who
Jared Kushner, Khalil al-Hayya, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
What
Meeting between Jared Kushner and Hamas leaders regarding a Gaza peace road map.
When
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Where
Egypt
Why
To negotiate the implementation of a U.S.-backed peace plan that requires Hamas disarmament and the transfer of governing power in Gaza.

Timeline of what happened

Key dates and decisions, in the order they occurred.

  1. October 7, 2023

    Conflict between Israel and Hamas begins following attack on southern Israel

  2. October 2025

    Current ceasefire agreement goes into effect

  3. July 30, 2026

    President Trump posts details of 15-point U.S.-backed peace plan

  4. August 16, 2026

    Kushner meets with Egyptian President el-Sisi and Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya

Jared Kushner, adviser and son-in-law to President Trump, met with Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday to discuss a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza. The meeting followed talks between Kushner and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi regarding the implementation of a Gaza ceasefire agreement. Kushner is scheduled to travel to Israel on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The negotiations center on a 15-point road map proposed by the Trump administration's international Board of Peace. The plan seeks the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, the transfer of governing authority to a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and the deployment of an international stabilizing force. While President Trump stated in July that an agreement had been reached, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the proposal last week, stating that Israeli forces would not withdraw until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.

According to a source familiar with the Sunday meeting, the discussions aimed to establish verifiable steps for the transition of power. These steps include maintaining the current ceasefire, ensuring Hamas has no future role in Gaza's government, and facilitating the withdrawal of Israeli military forces as disarmament progresses. Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, issued a statement ahead of the Monday meeting criticizing Israel's rejection of the plan and urging the U.S. to prevent any party from obstructing its implementation.

The plan introduces a new precedent for regional security by conditioning Israeli military withdrawal on the "complete disarmament" of all armed groups in Gaza. If implemented, this would fundamentally change the day-to-day legal and security environment for Palestinians, who would shift from living under a militant-led administration to a new governing body supported by international forces. Small-business owners and families in Gaza would notice a change in who manages civil services and provides local policing. However, the current impasse between the Trump administration and the Israeli government creates uncertainty regarding if or when these administrative shifts will begin.

The next critical step occurs on Monday when Kushner meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu to address the Israeli government's objections to the road map. The primary tension remains the timing of military withdrawal versus the verification of disarmament. Foreign ministers from across the Middle East and Southeast Asia have signaled they will hold Israel responsible for any obstruction of the peace process. Observers will be watching to see if the U.S. Board of Peace introduces the "concrete measures" requested by regional allies to ensure the plan moves toward implementation despite the current disagreement.

The conflict originated with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. While a ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, the source reports that ongoing violence has continued to result in casualties. The proposed roadmap seeks to formalize a permanent end to these hostilities through the 15-point disarmament and governance transition plan.

Summaries are written by The Plain Record to state the facts of a story plainly and without political slant. See our editorial standards, or report a correction.

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Questions readers ask

What happened: Jared Kushner meets with Hamas leaders in Egypt to discuss Gaza peace plan?

Meeting between Jared Kushner and Hamas leaders regarding a Gaza peace road map.

Who is involved?

Jared Kushner, Khalil al-Hayya, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

When did this happen?

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Where did this happen?

Egypt

Why does this matter?

To negotiate the implementation of a U. S. -backed peace plan that requires Hamas disarmament and the transfer of governing power in Gaza.