Kushner-Hamas Talks: Disarmament Pledges Meet Skepticism

Senior Hamas officials have declared their commitment to disarming the organization and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, according to a source involved in the high-level negotiations currently taking place between Hamas and U.S officials.

The statements came during a meeting Sunday in Egypt with Jared Kushner, son-in-law and special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump. Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported the development on Channel 12 News, citing a source with direct knowledge of the discussions.

The session lasted approximately 90 minutes, during which Kushner sought direct assurances from the terror group's leadership that they would take concrete steps toward Gaza's demilitarization.

According to the source, the meeting proved "very productive." Hamas officials asked Kushner to relay a message to Trump affirming their commitment to the pledges they had made. "They confirmed their commitment and asked us to convey to President Trump that they are committed. We thanked them for the commitment, but we want to see real efforts, not just words," the source said. Kushner considered it important to hear the commitment directly from Hamas leadership, the source added.

Another significant development from the meeting concerns the future of governance in Gaza. Hamas officials told Kushner they are prepared to transfer civilian administration of Gaza to the technocratic Palestinian government, and to refrain from interfering with its operations once it is ready to enter the territory.

During the meeting, Kushner thanked Hamas representatives for their cooperation in efforts to recover the bodies of Israeli hostages. In turn, the organization's officials thanked the Trump administration and the "Peace Council" for their work on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

As part of his visit to Egypt, Kushner and his team also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and representatives of the technocratic Palestinian government. According to the source, el-Sisi said the Gaza crisis had been one of the main factors behind regional instability in recent years, and that stabilizing the Strip could contribute to broader stability across the Middle East.

Following the meetings in Egypt, Kushner landed in Israel, where he is expected to hold talks with senior Israeli officials and continue discussions regarding implementation of understandings about Gaza's future.