Netanyahu says disarmament of Hamas is key to forming government in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the establishment of a new government in the Gaza Strip could be possible next year, provided that the Hamas movement is fully disarmed.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu stated that no governing authority in Gaza could begin operating while Hamas remains armed. “A new government in Gaza is possible if you disarm Hamas,” he said.

According to the Israeli prime minister, disarmament could be carried out by “an international force or by any other means.” He added that such a step would open the way to a different future for the enclave.

Netanyahu claimed that Hamas currently has around 20,000 fighters armed with Kalashnikov rifles and possesses approximately 60,000 weapons in total. He said the core objective of disarmament would be to confiscate these arms and dismantle the tunnel network used by the group.

The Israeli leader also ruled out negotiations with Hamas, stating that the movement should “disappear.” He added that, in his view, the residents of Gaza want this outcome more than anyone else.

By Vugar Khalilov