Jared Kushner Says Hamas ‘Said All the Right Things,’ but IDF Won’t Leave Gaza Until Terror Group Disarms

President Donald Trump’s special envoy Jared Kushner says Hamas leaders made the right promises during direct negotiations over the administration’s Gaza peace plan, but warned that Israel will not withdraw its forces until the terrorist group proves it is willing to completely disarm.

Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt before holding roughly four hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The discussions centered on the Trump-chaired Board of Peace’s 15-point proposal for ending the conflict and rebuilding Gaza.

Hamas has indicated its willingness to move forward with the American-backed roadmap, which would ultimately remove the terrorist organization from control of Gaza and transfer civilian governance to a technocratic Palestinian administration.

Kushner acknowledged that trusting Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks remains extraordinarily difficult. He said the group “said all the right things” during negotiations but emphasized that Washington will judge Hamas by what it actually does rather than what its leaders promise.

Under the emerging framework, Hamas would be required to surrender or decommission its weapons and dismantle the enormous tunnel network it built beneath Gaza. The territory would also have to be fully demilitarized before large-scale reconstruction could move forward.

Netanyahu has expressed serious reservations about the proposal, particularly over the possibility that an Israeli withdrawal could allow Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities. Those concerns became a major focus of his lengthy meeting with Kushner.

Following the talks, the Board of Peace said Netanyahu and Kushner agreed that there would be no IDF redeployment from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed and Gaza is completely demilitarized. That requirement covers both light and heavy weapons as well as Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure.

Israel would also retain the right to defend itself if Hamas returns to terrorism, attempts to rearm or violates its commitments. Kushner made clear that the administration’s plan is not intended to prevent Israel from responding to an imminent security threat.

Two joint working groups are now being established. One will concentrate on Hamas’ disarmament and Gaza’s demilitarization, while another will address sanitation, clean water, public health and other basic needs facing Gaza’s civilian population.

Kushner suggested tangible progress could begin relatively quickly if Hamas cooperates. Weapons could begin being removed within roughly 30 days, while work to eliminate portions of the tunnel network could take place over the following 60 to 90 days.

The Trump administration is effectively offering Hamas a choice. If the group follows through, Gaza could move toward reconstruction and civilian governance without Hamas controlling the territory. If Hamas breaks its commitment, Kushner said Israel would have significantly greater international support to “finish the job.”

For now, the administration is giving diplomacy another opportunity while refusing to rely on promises alone. Hamas may have told Kushner what Washington wanted to hear, but the next stage of Trump’s Gaza plan will depend on whether the terrorist group actually gives up its weapons and military infrastructure.