Kushner: Demilitarizing Gaza ‘not going to be easy’

Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and peace envoy, stated on Sunday that demilitarizing the Gaza Strip would be challenging and that Washington was only beginning to comprehend the requirements. Speaking in Kyiv, Kushner mentioned that the U.S. had worked with Hamas for over four months, leading to the group's commitment to disarm. He emphasized that a new Palestinian technocratic government, distinct from the Palestinian Authority or Hamas, has developed a plan for Gaza, which has been "a dystopian place for a long time."

"Demilitarizing it is not going to be easy," Kushner said.

Kushner noted that the U.S. and Israel agree on the "end state" for Gaza but are addressing "some political issues" due to the upcoming Israeli election. He also stated that the Trump administration has increased aid to Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire, leading to lower malnutrition rates. Progress toward demilitarization could begin within 30 days, with weapons removal and tunnel filling potentially starting in 60 to 90 days, requiring cooperation from both sides. Meanwhile, Hamas continues to threaten Israeli forces, with the IDF striking Hamas infrastructure after an explosive device targeted an IDF vehicle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed Israel's control over 60% of the Strip, stating, "We are not withdrawing. We are staying on this line." He also congratulated security forces on the capture of Muein al-Arabid, a senior Hamas leader involved in hiding abductees and restoring Hamas control.