Following a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday regarding ongoing peace efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew a hard line in the sand regarding the future of Gaza.
In an interview with Bret Baier on “Special Report” Tuesday, Netanyahu asserted that no viable post-war government can function in the enclave until Hamas is completely stripped of its weaponry and control. According to the Prime Minister, any attempt to install a new governing authority while Hamas remains armed is doomed to fail due to the threat of immediate violence against potential leaders.
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“A new government in Gaza is possible if you disarm Hamas. Because no one’s going to come in there if Hamas stays armed, and they’ll put a bullet right through the back of their head, anyone, of any potential new government,” Netanyahu told Baier.
The comments come as President Trump continues to press for the stability of a ceasefire agreement brokered in October. That U.S.-backed plan, framed as a major step toward regional peace, included an initial phase involving an Israeli troop pullback to designated lines and the release of all hostages.
However, Netanyahu views the disarmament of the militant group not just as a security measure for Israel, but as the only path to a different future for Gaza itself. He suggested that whether disarmament happens through an international force or other means, it remains the “one remaining step” required for progress.
“The point here is not to negotiate with Hamas. That’s not the job, their job. Their job is to vanish. Stop. No more,” Netanyahu said, arguing that the group’s refusal to disarm is evidence they intend to maintain their grip on the territory.
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The diplomatic push in Washington contrasts with a volatile reality on the ground. The October ceasefire has faced repeated strain almost from its inception. By mid-October, Israel announced it had resumed enforcement measures, citing violations by Hamas. This led to a resumption of airstrikes and temporary halts in humanitarian aid flows before U.S. pressure helped restore access.
Tensions have remained high through the end of the year. Reuters reported that Israeli strikes on October 31 resulted in at least three Palestinian deaths in Gaza, marking several consecutive days of attacks that tested the truce. While the ceasefire has largely held since October 10, both sides have continued to trade accusations of violations, leaving the region in a fragile state of limbo.
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