Kushner has a rare meeting with Hamas’ leader on the Gaza road map. A meeting with Netanyahu is next

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump ‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday in a new diplomatic effort to produce progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet on Monday with Israel’s prime minister. This person is under pressure after rejecting the new 15-point, U.S.-backed road map.

The talks aim to salvage the plan for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory shattered by war.

At stake are the lives of some 2 million residents in Gaza and reconstruction of the crowded enclave now largely controlled by Israeli forces, more than 10 months since the ceasefire ended major military operations. A meeting between Kushner, fellow envoy Steve Witkoff and Hamas leaders in Egypt last year assisted clinch the ceasefire, whose progress until now had been stalled over the key issue of Hamas’ disarmament.