Gaza Plan Faces Israeli Opposition as Blair Joins Effort

Jared Kushner, accompanied by Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after a weekend that included rare talks with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt, with discussions centered on translating the Gaza ceasefire roadmap into verifiable steps. Hamas reiterated its readiness to pursue the roadmap and disarmament, but tied concessions to Israel’s withdrawal and an end to aggression, while also urging mediators and the U.S.-led Board of Peace to compel Israel to implement all obligations. Israel rejected the 15-point plan and demanded continued occupation until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, prompting international mediation efforts to salvage the plan. A coalition of eight Muslim nations including Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE condemned Israel’s stance as obstructing peace and urged full implementation of the roadmap, signaling broad regional pressure. Hamas welcomed the joint statement and called for concrete measures and a timetable, signaling a potential 14-day negotiation window to advance the peace process. The broader diplomacy—encompassing the Board of Peace, mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, and U.S. involvement—aims to prevent a deterioration of Gaza conditions while balancing Israeli security concerns and Palestinian self-determination demands.