Israel Gives Hamas 60 Days to Disarm or Face War

The Cabinet of Israel has issued a 60-day ultimatum demanding that Hamas fully disarm, including the surrender of all rifles and the destruction of tunnel networks. Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs announced the deadline, stating it was requested by the United States and could begin following a February 19 meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Washington. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a U.S. draft plan that would have allowed Hamas to retain small arms, asserting that the group must be demobilized to ensure security.

Hamas leadership has rejected the demand. Senior officials Mahmoud Mardawi and Basem Naim dismissed the ultimatum as an intimidation tactic, arguing that disarmament is a political issue that can only be discussed within a long-term ceasefire and an end to Israeli occupation. Khaled Meshaal further asserted that resistance is a right for people under occupation.

Complementing the deadline, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israeli forces will not withdraw one millimeter from the Yellow Line in eastern Gaza until Hamas is disarmed. Katz also unveiled the Shield of Israel initiative, a ten-year plan adding approximately 350 billion shekels ($95 billion) to the defense budget to increase domestic weapons production. While the U.S. continues to push a 20-point peace plan involving reconstruction and an international stabilization force, the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle tunnels and maintain security control in Gaza.