Trump envoy says Hamas disarmament could begin within 30 days

Jerusalem - US President Donald Trump's envoy, Jared Kushner, stated on Monday that progress towards disarming Hamas and advancing the Gaza peace plan could commence within a month following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to Fox News in Tel Aviv, Kushner expressed optimism about seeing "progress... in as little as 30 days", potentially involving the removal of some weapons and tunnel filling.

The US envoy's comments came as Kushner and Netanyahu agreed that an American general would verify Hamas' disarmament, with the Israeli official confirming the understanding as a new effort to appease Israel. This arrangement follows Netanyahu's rejection of the latest part of the US plan amid his re-election campaign, which prompted Trump's administration to consider alternative measures.

Kushner, who met Netanyahu in Jerusalem the day prior to discussions in Egypt with Hamas, emphasized that Hamas would have to hand over its weapons for decommissioning under the supervision of an American general, marking the first step towards the demilitarization of Gaza. The roadmap, agreed upon by Hamas on July 30, emphasizes the importance of weapon decommissioning under the supervision of the International Stabilization Force, led by US Major General Jasper Jeffers.

While Hamas pledged to turn over its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body, its status remained skeptical by Netanyahu, who remains a key player in the region despite facing re-election challenges.