According to reports from the American Axios news website and the British Guardian, among other foreign media, on August 16 local time, US President Trump's son-in-law, Jocelyn Skerness, held a 'rare' meeting with Khaled Hammadi, the chairman of the political committee of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in Egypt.
This is the first time Kushner has met with Hamas leaders since the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect in October 2025.
According to reports, Kushner used this rare direct meeting to pressure Hamas, demanding that it take concrete measures towards disarming.
Sources familiar with the matter told the Aksios News Network that Kushner emphasized to Hamas leaders that Israel does not believe Hamas will truly disarm. “Kushner told them that there is no room for negotiation on the issue of disarmament, but if they take concrete actions, the United States will do its best to ensure that Israel also takes corresponding measures.”
Sources familiar with the matter also said that Hamas leaders asked Kushner to convey to Trump that they remain committed to disarming, but expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's policies in Gaza and the ongoing attacks.
We appreciate their commitment, but we hope to see concrete actions rather than empty talk. A knowledgeable source says it is crucial for Kushnya for them to personally commit to this pledge.
Hamas leaders also stated that they are ready to transfer the authority over the governance of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian technical bureaucracy, and promised not to interfere once this government begins operating.
Kushner thanked the Hamas leaders for their cooperation and efforts in finding the remains of the Israeli hostages who were held hostage. The Hamas leaders, in turn, thanked the Trump administration and the “Peace Committee” initiated by the United States for their efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
According to reports, the meeting lasted approximately 90 minutes. In addition to Kochina and Khalil Haiah, high-level representatives from the ‘Peace Committee’, Nikolai Mradnov, members of the ‘Peace Committee’, former British Prime Minister Blair, Egyptian Intelligence Director General Hassan Rashed, as well as officials from Qatar and Turkey were present.
On July 30th, Trump announced on social media that the 'Peace Committee' had reached an agreement regarding the 'full disarmament' of Hamas and other armed organizations in the Gaza Strip. The 'Peace Committee' released a peace plan consisting of 15 points the following day.
According to the plan, Hamas should disarm, and Israel will withdraw its troops from Gaza in stages. Hamas responded that the transfer of weapons is conditional upon the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Kushner will visit Israel on August 17 and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu recently publicly rejected the peace plan proposed by the “Peace Committee” and stated that the Israeli army would not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas was truly disarmed.
