Hamas’s al-Khayya meets Kushner as Iran-US MoU expires

Hamas representatives met former U.S. adviser Jared Kushner in Cairo on Tuesday, demanding that the Board of Peace compel Israel to accept a Gaza ceasefire plan. The meeting followed weeks of escalating violence in Gaza and a stalled diplomatic effort to end the conflict. Kushner, who has been working with Egyptian and Israeli officials on a negotiated settlement, is the main U.S. contact in the region.

The Gaza war began in October when Hamas launched rockets from the Strip and Israel responded with air strikes and a ground offensive. The fighting has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and injured thousands of Israelis. In the past month, the United Nations and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have called for a ceasefire, but Israel says it needs to neutralise Hamas before any truce. The Board of Peace, a U.N.-backed group of former heads of state, has been asked by many to push Israel to accept the plan that would end hostilities and restore normal life in Gaza.

Hamas’s call to the Board of Peace is part of a broader push to involve international actors. The group includes former presidents from countries such as Egypt, South Africa and Argentina. Hamas wants the board to pressure Israel to halt its military operations, allow humanitarian aid, and release Palestinian prisoners. Israel has rejected the board’s involvement, arguing that only a direct negotiation with Hamas can secure security. The United States, which signed a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding with Iran to curb Iran’s weapons exports, is now facing pressure to mediate the Gaza conflict while its own agreement with Tehran is set to expire in December.

If the Board of Peace takes up Hamas’s request, it could force a temporary ceasefire and open the door to a longer‑term settlement. The U.S. would likely try to keep its diplomatic channels open with both sides, while the expiration of the Tehran‑U.S. MoU may complicate the region’s security dynamics. Egyptian officials say they will keep the lines of communication open and may broker further talks. The next few weeks will see whether the board can gain the authority it needs to influence Israel’s actions or whether the conflict will continue without a clear path to peace.