Netanyahu presses role for US general in Hamas disarmament

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy Jared Kushner agreed on Monday that an American general would verify Hamas's disarmament, an Israeli official said. Netanyahu insisted there would be no Israeli pullout from Gaza until that disarmament is complete.

What role will the US general play in Hamas disarmament?

The two sides agreed that no redeployment or reconstruction would take place in Gaza before Hamas is disarmed throughout the territory. As a first step, Hamas would be required to hand over its weapons for decommissioning under the supervision of an American general.

Why did Netanyahu and Kushner meet?

The understanding marks a new attempt by President Donald Trump's administration to satisfy Israel, after Netanyahu, facing a tough re-election fight, publicly rejected the latest part of a US plan to end the Gaza war. Kushner met Netanyahu in Jerusalem a day after holding rare direct talks in Egypt with Hamas, which has publicly committed to the plan.

Who will oversee the weapons decommissioning?

A roadmap agreed by Hamas on July 30 said the International Stabilization Force, led by US Major General Jasper Jeffers, would supervise the decommissioning. Hamas had pledged to hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body, an arrangement Netanyahu viewed with skepticism but which Trump called a breakthrough.

What guarantees has Israel been given?

An official with Trump's "Board of Peace," which is implementing the deal, said every weapon collected would be fully decommissioned so it cannot be reused, and that Israel retains its full right of self-defense. The official added that if Hamas resorts to terror, violence or tries to rearm, Israel will retain the right to act accordingly. Other Board of Peace members joining Kushner in the talks included former British prime minister Tony Blair.

What did Kushner demand from Hamas?

Kushner, in the talks in Egypt, demanded that Hamas prove it is giving up its weapons and renounce any future role in governing the Palestinian territory, according to sources in the negotiation. A Hamas official said the group, represented by its new leader Khalil al-Hayya, told Kushner it was committed to the Gaza plan and wanted pressure applied on Netanyahu.

Why has Netanyahu taken a harder line recently?

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces elections on October 27 and has increasingly been willing to defy Trump, whose support he once highlighted in his campaign. He has also expressed unhappiness with Trump's decision to halt the US-Israeli war on Iran and instead pursue a settlement with Tehran's clerical leaders. In an interview that drew wide attention in the Arab world, far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should kill 30 to 40 people every night in Gaza, calling them people who "shouldn't be alive."

What is the current death toll in Gaza?

President Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, struck a more upbeat tone when meeting Kushner, praising the Board of Peace's efforts toward a more secure future for the region. Israeli operations have killed at least 1,265 Palestinians since the ceasefire began on October 10, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations considers reliable. The Israeli army has reported five deaths in its ranks over the same period.