Trump's Son-in-Law to Meet Netanyahu After Talks with Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and envoy of US President Donald Trump, on Monday (17/8). The meeting comes a day after Kushner held rare talks with Hamas officials in Cairo, Egypt, in an effort to advance Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

A diplomatic source told AFP that Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya attended the meeting held by mediators with Kushner and Trump’s Peace Council envoy for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, in Cairo on Sunday (16/8) local time. This marked Kushner’s second meeting with representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated as a terrorist movement by the United States.

Kushner previously met with Hamas officials alongside US envoy Steve Witkoff in October 2025, helping to reach an agreement that led to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

In late July, Trump said an agreement had been reached for the total disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. However, Netanyahu, who is seeking re-election in elections scheduled for October, has publicly rejected Trump’s plan.

Trump said the deal would be implemented in phases, with Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza as disarmament proceeds and an International Stabilisation Force works with a new Palestinian police force to secure the territory. Hamas has said it agreed to the plan, but stressed that implementation would depend on Israel first fulfilling its commitments, including withdrawing troops from Gaza and halting attacks.