Netanyahu Demands Hamas Disarm Before Gaza Reconstruction Begins

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected accusations that Israel is blocking winter supplies to the Gaza Strip following severe rains that flooded makeshift tents. He asserted that Hamas alone is responsible for the humanitarian crisis, claiming the group seizes aid for military use and refuses to disarm.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Israel stated that the Gaza Strip must be demilitarized before reconstruction can begin under President Donald Trump's 20-point plan. While Israel has facilitated a winterization plan involving 91,000 tents and 8,200 truckloads of supplies, the Prime Minister's Office maintained that Hamas has not surrendered a single weapon and continues to divert dual-use items, such as cement and water pipes, to build terror tunnels.

These positions follow criticism from the US-backed Board of Peace, which stated that Israeli delays exacerbated the foreseeable challenges of winter flooding. United Nations reports indicate that 150,000 tents and pumps are currently awaiting entry into the enclave. Additionally, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories reported that Hamas has hindered commercial shipments by demanding forced taxation from Gazan merchants.