Whilst in Egypt, Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. According to Israeli media reports, Mladenov and Blair will also meet Netanyahu on Monday with the aim of advancing Trump’s plan.
The Israeli prime minister has said he wants a full Hamas disarmament first in order to implement the deal.
“Israel rejects the Board of Peace’s 15-point document on Gaza. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed,” Netanyahu said last week, defying Israel’s closest ally.
In the run-up to a general election in October, Netanyahu faces pressure within his own cabinet to continue operations in Gaza. Earlier this month, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir dismissed the draft as “not acceptable”.
In a podcast interview that aired on 15 August, with Rom Braslavski, who was taken hostage by Hamas during the 7 October attack, Ben Gvir was asked about Israel reducing operations in Gaza and said, “It’s no secret, I disagree with the prime minister,” according to the Associated Press.
He said he thought that “targeted assassinations” should be carried out, “taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat – there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people.” The comments were also reported in the Financial Times and Times of Israel.
Following Israel’s rejection of the 15-point plan, there appeared to be a pause in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, though attacks have since continued.
In a joint statement on Sunday, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia said Israel’s rejection of the US plan threatened Trump’s efforts for peace.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on 10 October last year, remains in place.
However, the Israel Defense Forces have carried out near daily strikes since then.
More than 1,200 people have been killed since the ceasefire according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. Unicef says at least 300 children have reportedly been killed.
There was a lull in attacks – reportedly at the request of the US – even after Israel rejected the 15-point plan.
However, Israeli strikes have since resumed. The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad “terrorists” in Khan Younis and Nuseirat. Local medics said several people living in a tent camp in Khan Younis were injured.
Israel and Hamas accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 73,000 people have been killed, including 21,280 children, according to the territory’s health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.
The UN estimates that about 1.9 million people – 90% of Gaza’s population – have been displaced since the war started.
