Washington, Aug 18 (V7N)- The United States believes significant progress toward peace in Gaza could be achieved within 60 to 90 days if Hamas agrees to disarm and hand over its weapons. Washington has also warned that Israel could receive further US support for military operations if Hamas fails to fulfill its commitments.
US Special Envoy Jared Kushner made the remarks in an interview with Fox News after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday (August 17).
Kushner said that if Hamas voluntarily hands over weapons stored in tunnels within the next 60 to 90 days, a major security threat to Israel could be eliminated. He described such an outcome as an “almost unimaginable achievement.”
However, he warned that the situation would change if Hamas failed to follow through on its commitments.
According to Kushner, failure to disarm would demonstrate that Hamas is not serious about peace. In that case, Israel would receive greater support from the United States and other countries to complete its military objectives in Gaza.
Kushner also discussed his meeting with Hamas officials on Sunday. He said the group’s representatives “said the right things” during the meeting, but added that their statements would be judged against their past actions.
He described the meeting as cordial and said Hamas would now have an opportunity to demonstrate its intentions through concrete steps rather than statements.
Meanwhile, Kushner described his nearly four-hour meeting with Netanyahu on Monday as “very good.” He said the two sides discussed several concerns raised by the Israeli prime minister.
The discussions reportedly covered issues including Israel’s right to self-defense and plans for the reconstruction of Gaza. Kushner said efforts were made to address what he described as misunderstandings and misinformation surrounding the issues.
Regarding the prospects for progress, Kushner said some positive developments could emerge within the next 30 days. He specifically mentioned the possibility of beginning efforts to remove Hamas weapons and fill or secure its tunnel network.
He said the process could advance significantly over the following 60 to 90 days, but stressed that the outcome would ultimately depend on whether Hamas implements its commitments in practice.
The comments come as diplomatic efforts continue over the future of Gaza, with disarmament, security arrangements and reconstruction remaining among the key issues in negotiations.
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