A senior Hamas official said that talks about the group handing over its weapons and relinquishing control of Gaza have never taken place. The Times of Israel reports that no official agreement exists, contrary to what U.S. President Trump has claimed. Hamas official Abu Marzouk stated that Hamas still holds governing authority in Gaza and could even veto the proposed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The comments came after Netanyahu said in a press conference on Tuesday that the mission to disarm Hamas must come before the reconstruction of the devastated Strip.
“As I agreed with President Trump… there are only two possibilities: either this will be done the easy way, or it will be done the hard way, but in any case, it will happen,” Netanyahu said of disarmament, using a formulation he has employed previously, and specifying Gaza must be demilitarized before reconstruction begins.
Trump said Monday, after Israeli forces returned Gvili’s remains: “Now we have to disarm Hamas like they promised.”
When Trump announced last week that the United States would help broker an agreement with Hamas—saying they had agreed to disarm—the terror group denied that any such agreement had ever been made. Proposed plans to encourage disarmament include amnesty and weapon buy-back programs. A U.S. official has said that Trump would take “other actions” if Hamas does not cooperate with the requirements of phase two of the ceasefire.
While Israel continues to be showered with prayers of shalom—peace—there remains a very real possibility that fighting could resume in Gaza as Hamas entrenches itself further. The IDF has warned its troops of this potential outcome. The Fellowship and our supporters stand with these brave men and women.
