Israel makes full Hamas disarmament a condition for Gaza reconstruction
Israel now says Gaza reconstruction will begin only after Hamas is fully disarmed, reversing its earlier position that disarmament and rebuilding would happen together.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Israel has set new conditions for Gaza's reconstruction, saying it will only begin after the complete disarmament of Hamas. The announcement came after a meeting in Jerusalem between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US envoy Jared Kushner, and marks a shift from the earlier understanding that disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal and reconstruction would happen in tandem.
Last week Israel said it was refusing to implement the next stage of President Trump's Gaza peace plan, despite Hamas having agreed to hand over weapons alongside the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the rebuilding of the territory. The new statement, described as agreed by the US-led Board of Peace, makes full disarmament a precondition for any reconstruction work.
Kushner, who met Israeli leaders after Israel rejected a US plan for disarming Hamas, said the process could take three months. He said that if Hamas willingly gives up its weapons and tunnels over the next 60 to 90 days, it would remove a huge security threat to Israel. He added that if Hamas does not follow through, everyone will see they are not genuine about peace, and Israel would have more support from the US and others to finish the job.
On the ground, Gazans continue to suffer. Nasrin's family cannot return to their home because Israeli forces have not withdrawn from eastern areas of Gaza. One resident said: "Honestly for three years they have been holding meetings and making decisions, but nothing is implemented. They just sit in their chairs and leave. We don't see any results. We are just suffering for nothing. We are the ones paying the price."
Netanyahu faces difficult elections in October and wants to appear tough on Hamas. Withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza is unpopular with many of his voters, and his far-right cabinet allies are making increasingly extreme demands. One ally said: "It's no secret I disagree with the prime minister. I think targeted assassination should be carried out in Gaza taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat. There are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn't leave. They're not even people."
Critics will ask whether Netanyahu's new conditions are meant to delay Israeli concessions, distract voters, or trigger Hamas into refusing the US plan. The peace process, already limping, now faces further uncertainty.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the human cost of the stalled peace process, the political pressures on Netanyahu, and the shift in Israel's position on reconstruction. It gave voice to Gazans' frustration and highlighted the far-right demands within Netanyahu's coalition, while also reporting Kushner's comments and the timeline for disarmament.
- “No longer rolling out in tandem with Hamas disarmament, it said, but only after the process is complete”
- “Honestly for three years they have been holding meetings and making decisions, but nothing is implemented They just sit in their chairs and leave. We don't see any results. We are just suffering for nothing”
- “If Hamas actually gives over the weapons and the tunnels, you know willingly over the next 60 to 90 days that obviously would be the elimination of a huge security threat for Israel”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.