Kushner meets Netanyahu as US seeks to revive stalled Gaza peace plan

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, traveled to Israel on Monday for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The talks follow a weekend meeting in Egypt between Kushner and Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, which also involved Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov. Both delegations said the goal was to translate the Trump-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan into "concrete, verifiable steps," including Hamas disarmament, an Israeli troop pull-back to the so-called yellow line and the start of reconstruction.

Netanyahu publicly rejected the plan on August 9, stating that Israel would not withdraw forces until Hamas was fully disarmed. "I want to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document," he said in a televised address. Hamas, for its part, indicated willingness to disarm only if Israel halted its strikes and withdrew troops as stipulated in the October cease-fire agreement.

The Board of Peace, described in a charter obtained by CNN as an "international organization" for stability and governance in conflict-affected areas, lists Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other regional leaders as members. The board sits above an executive group that includes Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and former British prime minister Tony Blair. Several Western nations, including the United Kingdom, France and Norway, have declined to join, citing concerns over Russian involvement and the board’s relationship with the United Nations.

The meeting occurs amid broader diplomatic challenges. A 60-day window for a U.S.–Iran agreement to end hostilities in the region expired on Monday without a final deal, and analysts warn that continued pressure on Iran is unlikely to produce a breakthrough. Meanwhile, the United States announced a reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, citing shifting strategic priorities.

The outcome of Kushner’s discussions with Netanyahu remains unclear, but officials indicated that the United States continues to pursue a negotiated settlement that would end the Gaza conflict while addressing broader regional security concerns.