Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff confirmed during a press conference in Kiev that the United States has worked with Hamas for more than four months and that the movement signed an agreement committing itself to disarmament and reducing escalation, pointing to coordination with Israel on the ultimate goal of the Gaza Strip despite the Israeli internal complications.
AI-generated summary
The statements come within the framework of an intensive diplomatic tour by Kushner and Witkoff that included Moscow and Kiev, with the aim of advancing regional peace files, including the war in Ukraine and the Palestinian file.
Witkov indicated, during a press conference held on Sunday in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, that the United States had worked with Hamas for more than four months, stressing that the movement “signed an agreement in which it committed to disarmament and reduce escalation.”
Regarding coordination with Israel, Kushner explained that Washington and Jerusalem agree on the “ultimate goal” of the Gaza Strip, despite the presence of some outstanding political issues that require a solution.
He attributed some of the current complications in coordination to the Israeli internal situation, saying: “They have chaotic (crazy) elections, and this makes them a little irrational in certain aspects, but we are very determined and continue to work on resolving these matters.”
These statements come within the framework of an intensive diplomatic tour undertaken by Kushner and Witkoff, which recently included meetings in Moscow and Kiev in renewed American efforts to advance regional peace files, including the war in Ukraine and the Palestinian file.
Kushner's emphasis on "disarmament" as a basic condition is consistent with the recently announced American and Israeli positions, which require the end of any faction's military control in the Strip before embarking on any reconstruction plans or permanent political solutions.
The visit comes at a time when the current US administration seeks to show diplomatic momentum to resolve the intertwined crises in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US diplomatic efforts to consolidate a disarmament agreement with Hamas will continue
Likely · Within weeks

The AfD received the largest number of votes in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament elections, sparking reactions from German and international politicians, including warnings about the spread of the far right, demands to ban the party, and comments from the leaders of France, Italy, the United States, and German Jewish councils.
The youth wing of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Saxony-Anhalt demanded a complete change in the party's regional leadership after the AfD received 44.5% of the votes in the local parliament elections, while the CDU received only 18.5%. The youth considered that responsibility for this result lay with the entire party leadership, and called for the resignation of Friedrich Merz from the positions of Federal Chancellor and party president.
The BSW party's candidate in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections, Schulze, stated that he will open the door to dialogue with all parties, including the AfD, stressing that the political firewall does not concern them, and pointing to the consensus of views with the AfD in the file of relations with Russia and opposition to sanctions that are destroying the economy, while exit polls indicate a possible victory for the AfD that may enable it to form a regional government for the first time with the support of BSW.
Israel held a high-level security meeting amid escalating tensions with Iran, coinciding with raising military readiness and conducting surprise exercises. Netanyahu warns Tehran against any attack, while the security establishment is monitoring the possibility of the American-Iranian confrontation expanding into the Israeli arena.

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