As Gaza Peace Deal Starts Falling Apart, Its Architects Still Plan on Disarming Hamas

The ceasefire in Gaza, brokered just weeks ago, already faces collapse as Hamas resumes attacks on Israeli forces and clings to power through brutal executions. Yet Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the key figures behind the 20-point agreement, remain focused on stripping the terror group of its weapons to prevent any resurgence.

In a recent appearance on “60 Minutes,” Kushner laid out the stakes: “The success or failure of this will be if Israel and this international mechanism is able to create a viable alternative. If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future.”

Witkoff, serving as U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, described efforts to organize a weapons buy-back program aimed at convincing Hamas fighters to surrender arms. He added, “You’ll see European participation and so forth. I think the beginning of this plan is how to get it going. And that’s what me and Jared work on all the time. The money raising, we think is the easy part. We think that happens relatively quickly. But it’s the master plan, and we’re working with a group of people who have been working on master plans for the last two years.”

The deal, signed earlier this month after direct meetings between Kushner, Witkoff, and Hamas leaders, includes hostage releases and the formation of an interim governing body in Gaza. This body would report to a “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump, drawing on qualified Palestinians and international experts. Reconstruction, projected to cost over $50 billion, relies on funding from Middle Eastern and European sources.

Kushner emphasized the need for clean governance: “You can’t replace a corrupt government with another corrupt government. The reason why — again, and this is an impossible thing to do, but Steve and I and President Trump are always aiming to try and accomplish impossible but rational things. So the goal here is to set up a transparent, good government. This can be very, very difficult to do, but we’re in the very early phases of trying to accomplish that.”

Disarmament falls to an international stabilization force, with both envoys ruling out U.S. troops. Witkoff called it “highly unlikely,” while Kushner flatly stated “no” to American military involvement.

Recent events expose the deal’s vulnerabilities. Hamas fired on troops in Rafah, prompting Israeli strikes that paused aid deliveries. The group has defended public executions of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, refusing to commit to laying down arms. Trump has vowed swift action if Hamas targets civilians, promising to “go in and kill” terrorists responsible.

Whispers in diplomatic circles suggest more than meets the eye in these breakdowns. Some point to lingering influences from the previous administration’s State Department holdovers, who may be feeding intel to adversaries or dragging their feet on implementation. Iran’s shadow looms large, with reports of Tehran funneling support to Hamas to torpedo the accord and keep the region unstable. Even as the U.S. notes Hamas searching for hostage remains in apparent good faith, skeptics see this as a ploy to buy time while rebuilding underground networks.

Kushner acknowledged the risks, noting it’s “too early to tell” if democracy can take root, prioritizing functionality during reconstruction. As they head to Israel, the pair continues putting out feelers for the interim body, betting that a viable alternative will sideline Hamas for good.

The path ahead demands vigilance against those who benefit from endless conflict, ensuring that peace isn’t derailed by hidden agendas or foreign puppets pulling strings from afar.