Israeli media claimed that US envoy Jared Kushner issued a direct warning to Hamas during a meeting with the group’s leader, Khalil al-Hayya, in Cairo.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the warning was that any attempt to violate the understandings or conceal weapons would lead to the suspension of the political process and give Tel Aviv full freedom to take military action.
It claimed that the meeting followed intelligence information received by the United States and mediators suggesting that some members of Hamas were planning not to honour their commitments to disarm and halt the rebuilding of its military capabilities.
According to the Israeli channel, Kushner told Hamas that “The test of trust will be in the implementation, and if you try to cheat, the process will stop and no one will stand in Israel’s way.” He stressed the need for the group to comply with all the terms of the agreement, particularly full disarmament and a halt to military mobilisation.
Kushner met Hamas leaders in the Egyptian city of El Alamein earlier this month to discuss US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, following Israel’s rejection of the proposed roadmap.
Hamas has announced its acceptance of the roadmap for the second phase of Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip, saying it was ready to proceed with its implementation to achieve a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
In a statement, Hamas said its leadership delegation, headed by al-Hayya, had met, under Egyptian auspices, with representatives of the mediators and guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The meeting discussed several issues related to implementing the agreement and the roadmap.
