Trump’s Envoys Meet Mediators, Israel Strikes Gaza

Envoys for former U.S. President Donald Trump convened with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo on Sunday, aiming to advance Trump's Gaza peace initiative. The diplomatic efforts proceeded even as Israel continued its airstrikes within the Gaza Strip.

Hamas officials were reportedly present at some of the discussions involving the mediators and Trump's envoy, Jared Kushner, along with Trump's Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov. A senior Israeli official indicated that Kushner and Mladenov were scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Netanyahu had previously stated on August 9 that Trump's latest peace roadmap for Gaza was "unacceptable."

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Trump's latest roadmap for Gaza peace was “unacceptable”.

The Israeli official also conveyed concerns regarding Washington's demand to cease targeted assassinations of Hamas fighters, particularly as the group works to rebuild its forces. Trump's peace plan advocates for an immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza, envisioning Hamas disarming while Israeli troops withdraw and Gaza is reconstructed under a new Palestinian civilian administration.

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Trump's peace plan calls for the immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza. It foresees Hamas disarming as Israeli troops withdraw from the enclave and Gaza is rebuilt under a new civilian Palestinian administration.

Following a period of scaled-back attacks earlier in the month, Israel's airstrikes in Gaza have intensified in recent days. The Israeli military reported striking two Islamic Jihad and Hamas fighters in Khan Younis and Nuseirat on Sunday. Medics in Gaza stated that at least five Palestinians were injured in a strike on a tent encampment in Khan Younis, with one later succumbing to their wounds at Nasser hospital. Another airstrike in the Nuseirat camp reportedly wounded several people.

Earlier, Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya met with Egypt's intelligence chief Hassan Rashad in Cairo. A Hamas spokesperson indicated that Al-Hayya would brief the mediators on alleged Israeli ceasefire violations. Kushner had also held a prior meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to Sisi's office. Trump had announced a breakthrough in his plan last month, claiming agreement from both Israel and Hamas, though Hamas stated its agreement was conditional on Israel meeting its commitments, including troop withdrawal and halting attacks. An October ceasefire had paused major fighting in the Gaza conflict, which began with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, but did not entirely end Israeli military actions.

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Al-Hayya would brief mediators on what he said were Israel's ceasefire violations.