Kathmandu— Jared Kushner, son-in-law to the United States President and senior aide, is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt next week to bolster support for a US-backed Board of Peace initiative aimed at achieving a permanent end to the conflict in Gaza. The trip follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a 15-point plan that called for Hamas disarmament concurrent with an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a proposal which Hamas had preliminarily agreed to. Kushner will be joined by Nickolay Mladenov, director general of the Board of Peace, and Tony Blair, a member of its executive committee, in efforts to address Israeli concerns and chart a path forward.

Plan Faces Immediate Resistance

Netanyahu’s primary objection centers on a provision requiring Hamas to gradually disarm, transferring weapons to a third Palestinian party while Israel withdraws troops from Gaza. Despite this rejection, Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to the initial agreement reached in late 2025 as part of a broader ceasefire deal. A Board of Peace official stated that Kushner’s delegation will focus on addressing concerns and outlining next steps, emphasizing that both the board and Israel “agree on the end state, which is a demilitarised Hamas”.

Ceasefire Violations and Rising Casualties

The current push for peace comes against a backdrop of repeated ceasefire violations. Since a 20-point ceasefire agreement was signed last year – intended to halt fighting and pave the way for disarmament and Israeli withdrawal – local authorities report at least 1,260 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. The broader conflict has resulted in 73,389 Palestinian deaths in Gaza following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Furthermore, Israel has expanded its control over approximately 70 percent of the Gaza enclave.

Escalating Violence in West Bank

Kushner’s visit coincides with a surge in settler violence in the occupied West Bank, which rights groups attribute to enablement by Israeli military forces. The village of Qusra has been under siege, with residents reporting disruptions to essential services as part of an attempted land seizure. This violence prompted a rare public rebuke from US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who condemned settlers targeting the home of a dual US citizen in Qusra, calling their actions “disgusting.” Huckabee noted that Israeli military and police responded at the embassy’s request to remove those involved. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented 3,033 settler attacks in the West Bank between January 2025 and June 2026, averaging six per day, resulting in the deaths of 76 Palestinians, including 18 children.

Roadmap to be Solidified

In Cairo, Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair are expected to meet with Egyptian mediators and other parties to solidify a roadmap for implementing the peace plan. The initial agreement called for Hamas to transfer power to a technocratic Palestinian government, followed by the deployment of an International Stabilisation Force and a major reconstruction effort.

Kushner’s visit represents a renewed attempt to salvage the US-backed peace initiative, though significant obstacles remain given Israel's current stance and ongoing violence in both Gaza and the West Bank.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.