US gives Hamas an ultimatum: disarm or Israel will receive greater support (Updated)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US representative Jared Kushner agreed on a mechanism to monitor the disarmament of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Kushner said that the first results of the process may appear within 30 days, and voluntary disarmament of the group is expected within 60-90 days.

The agreement was reached on August 17 during a multi-hour meeting between Netanyahu and Kushner in Jerusalem. The parties discussed the implementation of the next stage of the American plan for the Gaza Strip and agreed that the disarmament of Hamas must precede the further withdrawal of Israeli troops.

According to an Israeli official, the handover and decommissioning of weapons is to be monitored by an American general. Israel also insists that large-scale reconstruction of Gaza should not begin until the enclave is demilitarized.

After the talks, Kushner said in an interview with Fox News that progress could be visible quite quickly. According to him, the removal of some Hamas weapons could begin in about 30 days.

The American representative also suggested that within the next 60-90 days Hamas could voluntarily disarm, and the group's tunnels could be taken out of service. At the same time, he stressed that cooperation of both sides is necessary for this.

Kushner called the proposed mechanism beneficial for Israel in any development of events. According to him, if Hamas does not fulfill the conditions voluntarily within 60-90 days, Israel will receive significantly greater support from the US and other countries to complete the disarmament of the group. This refers to Kushner's statement, not a separately announced Washington decision on new aid to Israel.

Kushner also confirmed that the administration of US President Donald Trump is ready to support the reconstruction of Gaza, but it will not begin until the territory is demilitarized. At the same time, according to him, Washington has no intention of limiting Israel's right to self-defense in the event of a direct threat.

Before meeting with Netanyahu, Kushner held direct talks with Hamas representatives. He said that the group expressed readiness to implement the proposed plan, but stressed that these intentions must be confirmed by concrete actions.

One of the main contradictions remains the sequence of implementation of the agreements. The American plan previously provided for the phased disarmament of Hamas in parallel with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops. Netanyahu insists that the group must first completely surrender its weapons, and only then Israel will continue withdrawing its forces.

Under the plan, Hamas must also give up control of the Gaza Strip. The civil administration is to be transferred to a Palestinian technocratic body not affiliated with the group.

Based on materials: Bloomberg, The Times of Israel, France 24