U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Monday that he hopes the disarmament of Hamas will begin within “30 days” and that “progress” will be made in implementing President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to a Fox News journalist in Tel Aviv, Kushner said, “We may see progress within just about 30 days, with some weapons hopefully beginning to be withdrawn, and perhaps some tunnels being filled in over the next 60 to 90 days.”
“Progress could happen very soon, but we need cooperation from both sides,” he added.
Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, said he held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally of the U.S. president, that lasted about four hours, during which he provided reassurances on several points of contention.
Kushner said the Israeli side had raised “some legitimate concerns.”
He noted that the Trump administration is committed to helping rebuild Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel.
“But we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt before it is disarmed. Nobody wants to pour more money into a place … if they are going to take it over again,” he said.
“We will also not restrict Israel’s right to defend itself if there are imminent threats, so we had to clarify what that means,” he added.
Kushner said Israel would be “a winner either way,” whether Hamas proceeds with disarmament “voluntarily over the next 60 to 90 days” or refuses to do so. In the latter case, he said, “Israel will receive much greater support from the United States and other parties to carry out the mission in the appropriate manner.”
Kushner said he had held a “very friendly” meeting with Hamas officials, but added that “it is very, very difficult to trust them.”
Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that a U.S. officer would oversee the disarmament of Hamas, according to an Israeli official.
AFP
