US President Donald Trump's advisor Jared Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday and pressed the terrorist organization to implement its commitment to disarm, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the meeting.
The meeting was Kushner's first with Hamas leaders since an agreement to end the war in Gaza was signed last October. It took place as the White House and Trump's Board of Peace seek to advance Hamas and Israel to the next stage of the US 20-point peace plan.
Kushner is expected to travel to Israel on Monday and meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A source told Axios that the talks are expected to focus on "corresponding steps" Israel would be required to take.
Board of Peace high representative Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is also a member of the board, joined Kushner at the meeting.
Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya also participated, together with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi, and a senior Turkish official.
A source familiar with the talks told Axios that the meeting was intended to turn Hamas' obligations regarding the demilitarization of Gaza into specific measures that could be verified.
The steps discussed include transferring governing authority in Gaza to the Palestinian technocratic government and ensuring that Hamas does not participate in the future governance of the territory.
The Board of Peace is also seeking the decommissioning of Hamas weapons and military infrastructure, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force, and the advancement of Gaza's recovery and reconstruction without theft or intimidation targeting Palestinians involved in those efforts.
According to the report, the board is seeking corresponding Israeli withdrawals from parts of Gaza as Hamas begins disarming, as well as an acceleration of humanitarian aid to the territory.
"There can be no ambiguity: Hamas must relinquish governing authority and all weapons and military infrastructure. And Gaza can never again be a source of terror for Israel," a source told Axios.