Israel is insisting that Hamas hand over its weapons as a first step toward the reconstruction and full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, amid renewed U.S.-led efforts to advance a ceasefire and postwar plan for the enclave.
An Israeli source told Channel 12 that while Israel does not officially expect Hamas to surrender its weapons, U.S. officials believe the group could ultimately agree to do so.
During his meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. envoy Jared Kushner reiterated the position that reconstruction cannot begin before Gaza is demilitarized.
“We have a plan to rebuild Gaza, but we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarization occurs,” Kushner said separately, according to reports.
The Israeli source said Netanyahu presented Kushner with information that, in Israel’s assessment, showed there had been no meaningful process of Hamas disarmament and also raised allegations concerning Turkish financing of the group.
During the more than four-hour meeting, Netanyahu called for Hamas to transfer its weapons to the commander of the International Stabilization Force for Gaza (ISF), U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, for destruction.
Recent reports indicate that the United States and Israel have discussed a mechanism under which Hamas weapons would be handed over to U.S. forces and decommissioned. The meeting also resulted in plans for working groups focused on Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s humanitarian and public-health needs.
The issue of sequencing remains one of the main obstacles to the U.S.-backed roadmap. Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed, while Hamas has demanded that an Israeli withdrawal and an end to attacks occur alongside or before the group’s disarmament.
Kushner’s latest talks with Netanyahu followed a meeting with Hamas representatives in Egypt, where discussions focused on the proposed roadmap and the possibility of a phased process for demilitarization, Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction. Despite the meetings being described as constructive, no final breakthrough has been reached.
For Israel, the destruction or decommissioning of Hamas’s arsenal has emerged as a central condition for any long-term reconstruction of Gaza. For Hamas, however, the timing and conditions of disarmament remain closely linked to an Israeli military withdrawal and broader political arrangements for the future governance of the territory.
