Chicago – August 17, 2026
U.S. negotiator and PresidentĀ Donald TrumpĀ ‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday in a new diplomatic effort to make progress in the stalledĀ Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet with Israel’s prime minister on Monday.
The talks aim to salvage theĀ new 15-point, U.S.-backed road mapĀ for Hamas to disarm in Gaza and Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory shattered by war.
At stake are the lives of some 2 million people in Gaza and the 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 helped clinch the ceasefire, whose progress until now had been stalled over the key issue of Hamas’ disarmament.
