Israeli-American Warnings of Renewed Fighting in Gaza if Hamas Does Not Disarm
Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, instructed the army to prepare a comprehensive plan "to defeat Hamas" in the Gaza Strip, in case hostilities resume.
This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a return to fighting if the group does not adhere to the ceasefire agreement, hinting at the possibility of allowing Israeli forces to resume their military operations in the sector.
In a phone call with CNN, Trump was clear about the expected scenario if Hamas refused to disarm, stating: "Israel will return to those streets at my word. If Israel can go into Gaza and eliminate them, they will do it."
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the U.S. president's conditions are "very clear," emphasizing that the peaceful phase is contingent upon Hamas fulfilling disarmament conditions. Netanyahu warned that the alternative is that "hell will break loose."
Netanyahu outlined the required steps, saying: "First, Hamas must give up its weapons, and second, it must be ensured that there are no weapons factories inside Gaza, and that weapons are not smuggled into it. This is disarmament."
Netanyahu noted that he heard Trump's warning made on Tuesday: "If Hamas does not disarm, we will disarm them," adding that the U.S. president said: "This will happen quickly and perhaps violently, but they will give up their weapons."
In response, Netanyahu expressed hope to avoid this scenario, saying: "Well, I hope that does not happen. I hope we can do this peacefully, and we are certainly ready for that."
This escalation comes after mediation by the Trump administration that led to a deal involving the release of all remaining living Israeli hostages, numbering twenty, in exchange for the release of nearly two thousand Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
Trump's plan stipulated Israel's withdrawal from parts of the Gaza Strip and the immediate provision of humanitarian aid to the sector, where its residents are suffering from difficult conditions. However, the more sensitive issues, such as the administration of Gaza post-war, the future of the Palestinian state, and the fate of Hamas's weapons, remain unresolved.
