Intelligence Warning: Hamas May Be Stalling on Disarmament

Intelligence presented to U.S. officials and to the heads of the Gaza Peace Council indicated that Hamas "is planning to deceive and not fulfill its commitment to fully disarm." This was reported Sunday evening by Channel 12 News.

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s envoy, brought the intelligence to a meeting in Cairo with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and warned him: "If you do not carry out this move or stop it, if you try to deceive, the process, no one will stand in Israel’s way, and we will not restrain it." Kushner demanded that Hamas commit to surrendering its weapons, relinquishing Gaza, halting its military buildup, and demilitarizing the territory.

The American envoy also told senior Hamas officials that Israel does not trust them, and that as long as Israel fulfills its commitments, they must be prepared to fulfill theirs. Hamas responded that it had committed before all the mediators to fully implementing every clause of the 20-point plan, including the demilitarization provisions.

The report also claimed that Kushner’s decision to meet with al-Hayya came after Trump’s envoy feared that allowing the current situation to continue could lead to Israel’s diplomatic isolation and cement Hamas’s rule.

Sources in the Peace Council added that Kushner made clear that if Israel fulfills the agreements it signed, while Hamas fails to meet its commitment, Israel will be given the freedom of action needed to address the threat. On the other hand, if Israel is seen as trying to sabotage the plan, it will not have the diplomatic backing to change the situation.