Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip, saying his government would keep targeting remaining militant cells despite a ceasefire that took effect last month.
“Some Hamas cells remain active in parts of Gaza under our control, and we are systematically eliminating them,” Netanyahu told ministers, citing areas in Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza, IANS reported, citing Xinhua.
“Disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip is our guiding principle,” he said, adding that it was a goal he had agreed on with US President Donald Trump. “If it cannot be achieved one way, it will be achieved another.”
The PM's office added that Israel is not allowing the safe passage of some 200 Hamas terrorists from the Israeli-controlled Rafah area into Gaza, rejecting reports that such a move was being considered.
Netanyahu also urged Lebanon’s government to enforce its commitment to disarm Hezbollah, accusing the group of rearming, and warned that Israel would act in self-defense if necessary. Separately, Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Beirut to remove Hezbollah forces from southern Lebanon, saying in a statement that “maximum enforcement will continue and intensify — we will not allow any threat to residents of the north.”
