U.S. special envoy Jared Kushner delivered a stark ultimatum to Hamas on Monday, stating the group must honor its commitments to disarm in Gaza or face an Israeli military operation to "finish the job." Kushner detailed high-stakes diplomatic meetings in Egypt and Israel aimed at advancing President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace roadmap.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Fox News, Kushner said Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to Trump’s 20-point peace plan and a 15-point roadmap that includes the group giving up its weapons. "Time will tell whether that's going to be implemented," Kushner said, adding that Washington believes it is "very close to knowing, and we're making a lot of progress towards trying to get to the next steps."
"If they don't follow through now on their commitment, everyone will see that they're not genuine about peace, and then Israel will have a lot more support from the U.S. and others to go and finish the job in the appropriate way," Kushner told Fox News.
Kushner met with Hamas in Cairo, accompanied by members of the National Committee, described as a new technocratic Palestinian government intended to take over control in Gaza. This was Kushner's second known meeting with the group. "They said all the right things, but obviously, it's very, very hard to trust, you know, a terrorist organization that committed these terrible atrocities," Kushner commented on the meeting. "But we had a very cordial meeting, and they said all the right things, and so we're going to give them a chance to perform."
Diplomatic Efforts and Roadblocks
The U.S.-led "Board of Peace" proposal centers on a phased ceasefire, the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli troop withdrawal, Palestinian technocratic governance, and international reconstruction efforts. Kushner traveled to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the execution timeline of this roadmap.
A central point of contention remains the sequence of events: Israel demands full demilitarization before withdrawing further or allowing reconstruction, while Hamas insists that withdrawal and disarmament must occur in parallel. Netanyahu, facing political pressure ahead of upcoming Israeli elections, has expressed caution regarding phased compromises.
Kushner expressed optimism after a four-hour session with Israeli officials, stating, "I think today we had a very, very good meeting." He added that valid concerns were raised and addressed, and that misunderstandings and misinformation about the plan were clarified.
Kushner reiterated that U.S. support for reconstruction is contingent on demilitarization. "We will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until demilitarization occurs," he warned. "We're also not going to restrict Israel's right to defend itself if there are any imminent threats. And so we had to clarify what that means."
Timeline for Disarmament
Kushner outlined a timeline for potential progress, suggesting that steps toward disarmament could begin within 30 days, with the removal of weapons and the filling of tunnels potentially occurring within 60 to 90 days. "For Israel, we think this is a win-win situation because if Hamas actually gives over the weapons and the tunnels willingly over the next 60 to 90 days, that obviously would be the elimination of a huge security threat for Israel, almost an unthinkable achievement," he said.
The conflict was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and over 240 hostages taken. "Israel has a strong desire to live in peace," Kushner stated. "They've been through three years of war. It's been very, very hard for the country, very hard for the people. I think there's a lot of emotion in Israel and in the region."
Kushner expressed confidence in President Trump’s ability to broker a lasting peace deal, noting, "We see a lot of positive indications, and President Trump has pulled off miracles before in the Middle East. He's very committed to continuing to do things that nobody thinks are possible."