Kushner Meets Hamas Leaders in Egypt to Press for Gaza Demilitarization

Jared Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday to press for concrete, verifiable steps implementing the group's demilitarization commitments. Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya joined Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi and a senior Turkish official; Board of Peace officials Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair accompanied Kushner. Proposed steps include transferring governing authority to a Palestinian technocratic administration, decommissioning Hamas weapons and military infrastructure, and permitting deployment of the International Stabilization Force. Kushner is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday about corresponding Israeli steps if Hamas begins disarming.