Netanyahu conditions disarmament for Gaza reconstruction and an anticipated American deadline for Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government would not allow the launch of the Gaza reconstruction process before complete disarmament and the transformation of Gaza into a weapons- and tunnel-free zone. Netanyahu affirmed, in statements yesterday Tuesday, that the next phase of the ceasefire agreement is the disarmament of the Hamas movement, stressing that no reconstruction process will begin before achieving this goal. Netanyahu - who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges including committing war crimes in Gaza - indicated that any talk of launching a reconstruction process in Gaza before disarmament "will not happen," and added, "I hear claims already that Gaza will be allowed to be rebuilt before disarmament. This will not happen." Netanyahu's statements came after the Israeli occupation army announced the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli prisoner from the Gaza Strip. The second phase of the ceasefire agreement stipulates the disarmament of the Hamas movement and the rest of the Palestinian factions, the implementation of an additional withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and the start of reconstruction efforts, which the United Nations estimates will cost about $70 billion.

A specific deadline for Hamas Meanwhile, sources stated that the United States is preparing to announce, in the coming days, an official deadline for Hamas's disarmament. The Jerusalem Post quoted American officials as saying that the reconstruction of Gaza would not begin before Hamas agrees to disarm, considering that "the ball is in the movement's court." According to a document published by the White House last week, President Trump's plan includes the immediate dismantling of heavy weapons, the registration and disarmament of individual weapons "neighborhood by neighborhood," while the police in the technocratic committee to manage Gaza are responsible for providing security. Trump reiterated his warning to Hamas that it would have to pay a heavy price if it did not give up its weapons. Sources quoted an American official as saying that disarmament might be accompanied by some form of amnesty for members of the movement.

Weapons are an internal matter In contrast, the Hamas movement said that "its weapons are for self-defense in the face of the occupation, and that this file is an internal Palestinian matter not subject to external dictates." Hussam Badran, a member of the movement's political bureau, affirmed that the movement is committed to dealing with the issue of Palestinian weapons within national determinants and international laws, stressing that Palestinian weapons are a natural right to self-defense, and are managed internally according to the will of the Palestinian people, and not in response to the demands of the occupation or external pressures. In this context, sources quoted two officials in the movement as saying that Washington and the mediators have not presented any detailed proposal regarding the disarmament mechanism. The Jerusalem Post also quoted informed sources as saying that the administration of the Palestinian technocratic committee in Gaza is scheduled to lead negotiations on this file.

Threat of renewed war For his part, retired Israeli officer Amir Avivi confirmed that the military establishment is preparing to launch an attack on Hamas if it refuses to give up its weapons. Avivi indicated that the Israeli army is preparing for a new attack on Hamas if it refuses to give up its weapons, and this may include resuming operations in Gaza City, the largest city in the Strip. Israeli reports indicate that the Chief of Staff approved a plan to launch a large-scale attack in areas where the army has not previously operated inside Gaza, subject to the directives of the political leadership. The security establishment is also considering 3 paths: a political agreement under American supervision to dismantle Hamas within about two months, or a limited military operation to pressure the movement, or going towards a full occupation of the Strip and establishing a temporary military administration.