US envoy Jared Kushner said on Monday that he hoped Hamas disarmament would begin within “30 days” and take place under the supervision of a US general.
Kushner made the comments after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
“We could see progress in as little as 30 days with the beginning, hopefully, of the withdrawal of some weapons,” Kushner told Fox News. He added that the destruction of some underground tunnels could follow within the next 60 to 90 days.
The US envoy, who is Donald Trump’s son-in-law, said progress would require cooperation from both sides.
According to an Israeli official, Israel and the US agreed on Monday to assign an American general to oversee the disarmament process.
Netanyahu seeks full disarmament
The move is intended to address concerns within the Israeli government, as Netanyahu has publicly rejected a 15-point US “road map” for ending the war in Gaza.
“I had a very, very good meeting today,” Kushner said, describing almost four hours of discussions with Netanyahu and his team. He said the talks helped resolve some misunderstandings.
Kushner had met senior Hamas figures one day earlier.
Hamas announced in late July that it accepted the US road map and the start of the “second phase” of Trump’s plan. The proposal calls for Hamas to disarm in exchange for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, which currently control more than 60% of the Gaza Strip.
According to sources familiar with Sunday’s meeting, Kushner demanded that Hamas disarm and take “verifiable” measures.
“They told us all the right things, but obviously it is very difficult to trust them,” Kushner told Fox News when asked about the meeting.
US general could oversee weapons handover
Netanyahu and Kushner agreed that there would be no further Israeli withdrawal or reconstruction in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed across the territory, a senior Israeli official told AFP.
The official said the first step towards Gaza’s demilitarisation would be for Hamas to hand over its weapons so they could be rendered unusable under the supervision of a US general.
Kushner was accompanied by members of Trump’s “Board of Peace”, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
A board official, who did not confirm the involvement of a US general, said every weapon collected would be completely rendered unusable.
Pressure grows for stabilisation force
The Trump administration has already appointed US General Jasper Jeffers to lead the International Stabilisation Force, which is expected to deploy in Gaza under Trump’s UN-backed plan.
The road map presented publicly by Trump’s Board of Peace in July envisaged Hamas disarmament alongside a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas they control.
The process would be overseen by the proposed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a body of Palestinian technocrats expected to manage the territory’s day-to-day affairs during a transitional period.
Netanyahu rejected the proposal and demanded the “real” disarmament of Hamas, which launched the unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the Gaza war.
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, announced in July that it was dissolving its government and was prepared to transfer its responsibilities to the proposed committee.
Kushner reiterated on Sunday that Hamas could have no future role in governing Gaza, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Hamas, meanwhile, called for pressure to be placed on the Israeli government and Netanyahu to stop obstructing implementation of the road map. A Hamas official also called for a clear “timeline for its implementation”.
Ceasefire remains fragile
For years, the US rejected direct contact with Hamas, which it designates as a terrorist organisation.
Hamas and Israel continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire in Gaza, where two years of war have caused widespread destruction and left the population dependent on humanitarian assistance.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose figures the UN considers credible, at least 1,265 Palestinians have been killed since the fragile ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025.
During the same period, official figures indicate that six members of the Israeli armed forces have been killed in Gaza – five soldiers and a civilian contractor.
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