Netanyahu says Gaza reconstruction depends on Hamas disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will not begin unless Hamas is disarmed, reaffirming Israel’s position amid reports of differences with the United States over post-war plans for the territory.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Gaza’s reconstruction must be linked to the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities. “There will be no reconstruction in Gaza without the disarmament of Hamas,” he said.

His comments followed a report by the Israeli news outlet Ynet, which claimed the US administration had decided to drop Hamas’s disarmament as a precondition for reconstruction.

Netanyahu did not directly deny the report but insisted that Israel’s position remains unchanged.

The Israeli prime minister also said Palestinians in […]