Kushner: US to back Israel if Hamas fails to disarm

Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner told Israeli counterparts that the United States would support Israel resuming military operations if Hamas does not give up weapons and tunnels within a defined period, officials said.

According to officials, the message links Washington’s stance to specific, time-bound steps on demilitarization. The approach is framed as a test of whether Hamas can meet conditions that would avert a return to fighting.

If Hamas does not deliver the steps officials

60–90 day window tied to weapons and tunnels

Officials said Kushner assessed that Hamas could hand Officials said Kushner assessed that Hamas could hand over weapons and provide access to tunnel infrastructure within a 60–90 day timeframe. In the officials’ description, demilitarization was presented as a significant potential security gain for Israel. Officials said the 60–90 day period is being treated as a window in which measurable actions toward disarmament are expected. The timeframe is counted from the date of Kushner’s comments, officials said, and is intended to clarify what would qualify as progress during the period. US support described as conditional on compliance Officials said Washington’s backing for a possible resumption of military operations would depend on whether the disarmament commitments are met. If Hamas does not deliver the steps officials outlined, the United States would support Israel’s decision to restart operations, they said. Officials characterized the statement as a shift that Officials characterized the statement as a shift that could change diplomatic pressures on regional actors. By making the support explicitly conditional, officials indicated the policy would be reviewed based on outcomes at the end of the period rather than on general assurances.

Officials see an inflection point for regional diplomacy

Officials warned that the next two to three months could become a diplomatic inflection point for the conflict. They said the announcement increases the stakes for mediators seeking to prevent escalation and for neighboring states tracking the risk of a renewed and potentially widening confrontation. Officials also said regional reactions may influence whether Officials also said regional reactions may influence whether the situation remains contained or expands. In their account, the conditional timeline places added emphasis on how external parties respond as the window progresses.

Dates attached to the assessment period

Officials said the disarmament window runs through Oct. 17–Nov. 16, 2026. They added that Washington will assess progress and its posture at the end of that period.

Officials did not provide additional details on how progress would be measured beyond the requirement to surrender weapons and tunnels within the stated timeframe. The conditional posture, as described, hinges on whether the commitments are met by the end of the window, officials said.