Gaza (TDI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday stated that reconstruction efforts in Gaza will not proceed until Hamas is fully disarmed, as the newly formed “Board of Peace” held its inaugural session in Washington.
The meeting brought together around two dozen world leaders and senior officials. The board was established following a ceasefire negotiated in October by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, aimed at ending two years of conflict in the Gaza Strip.
“We agreed with our ally the US that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarization of Gaza,” Netanyahu said during a televised military ceremony.
The board’s discussions are also expected to focus on launching the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which will be tasked with maintaining security in Gaza. A key challenge remains the future of Hamas, which continues to wield influence in the territory and fought the recent war with Israel. Disarming the group is a central Israeli demand and a critical component of the ceasefire’s next phase.
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US officials, including Steve Witkoff, a close associate of President Donald Trump, have indicated that progress is being made and that Hamas is under increasing pressure to relinquish weapons. Israel has also proposed measures such as confiscating small personal firearms from the group.
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How the Palestinian technocratic administration in Gaza will handle the demilitarization issue remains uncertain. The 15-member National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which operates under the oversight of the Board of Peace, is represented at the Washington meeting by its head, Ali Shaath.
