Israel Agrees to Form Two Teams to Disarm Gaza and Restore Infrastructure

Following a tense four-hour meeting with Jared Kushner, Nikolay Mladenov, Tony Blair, and members of the Peace Council, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced the establishment of two working groups aimed at advancing the disarmament of the Gaza Strip and addressing its infrastructure needs. One team will focus on the complete disarmament of Gaza, a process Israel and the Peace Council insist must be completed before any reconstruction efforts begin. The second team will handle sanitation, clean water, and public health issues affecting Gaza residents and Israelis alike.

An Israeli official clarified that no rehabilitation in Gaza will occur without Hamas fully surrendering its weapons for destruction under the supervision of General Jeffrey, commander of the international stabilization force in Gaza (ISF). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized maintaining Israel's security freedom of action, including counterterrorism operations against groups like Nukhba. The sanitation efforts aim to prevent the spread of epidemics in Gaza.

A senior Israeli source confirmed Netanyahu's demand that Hamas hand over all weapons for destruction under American oversight as the first step in Gaza's rehabilitation. The Peace Council acknowledged Israel's security concerns and expressed mutual willingness to pursue full Hamas disarmament and governance removal before any Israeli withdrawal. Meanwhile, National Security Cabinet member and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised Netanyahu's firm stance on Hamas disarmament despite international pressure but stressed that the ultimate goal remains Hamas's complete military and political destruction, requiring full Israeli control over Gaza and the elimination of Hamas leaders worldwide. Smotrich criticized negotiations with Hamas leaders as fundamentally flawed and urged clarifying this to U.S. officials.