Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday that the demilitarization of Hamas would be achieved either the “easy way or the hard way,” signaling that the group would be disarmed either through the U.S. peace proposal or Israeli military action.
Netanyahu’s statement comes a day after Hamas accepted parts of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, including the release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The Prime Minister made two key points in his video message:
- Disarmament Vow: He stated that in the plan’s second phase, Hamas “will be disarmed, and Gaza will be demilitarised,” underscoring Israel’s non-negotiable condition.
- Continued Control: He also signaled that there would not be a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory, saying the Israeli military “will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza.”
Netanyahu expressed hope that he would be able to announce the “return of all our hostages” “in the coming days,” as Israel and Hamas prepare for talks in Egypt on Monday.
Earlier in the day, President Trump claimed on his platform that Israel had “agreed to the initial withdrawal line” and that a ceasefire would be “IMMEDIATELY effective” once Hamas confirms its acceptance. However, after Trump’s initial warning for Israel to stop bombing, Israel struck Gaza, killing six people. Disarmament and a full Israeli withdrawal remain the most contentious issues as talks continue.
