Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly stated that Israeli troops will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, dismissing a proposal supported by the United States that ties the military pullout to a broader peace deal. According to Israeli officials, intelligence reports suggest that Hamas continues to recruit fighters, rebuild its military capabilities, and increase its arsenal. Israel argues that pulling back troops before Hamas is completely disarmed would enable the group to regain control over Gaza, thus renewing security threats to the region.
The US-brokered ceasefire proposal outlines several key steps: Hamas would have to surrender its weapons and dismantle its network of tunnels; Israeli forces would withdraw in phases; a Palestinian technocratic authority would be established; an international security force would be deployed; and efforts would begin to reconstruct Gaza. Netanyahu’s rejection of this plan underscores Israel’s insistence on ensuring that Hamas is no longer a military threat before considering any troop withdrawal.
The conflict has seen Israeli airstrikes result in significant casualties, with reports indicating at least 17 deaths, including children, in recent days. In a separate incident, Palestinians conducted a mass funeral for more than 100 individuals whose bodies were recovered by rescue teams following a major Israeli airstrike in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood in November 2023. Recovery operations are ongoing, as many victims are believed to still be trapped under the rubble.
This ongoing conflict was ignited by an attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023, targeting southern Israel and resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages. This attack has been the catalyst for the current war in Gaza, with hostilities continuing as international efforts to broker peace face significant challenges.