December 31, 2025, 10:16December 31, 2025, 10:16
The USA and Israel are said to have agreed on a two-month deadline for disarming the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on this at their meeting in Florida, a source familiar with the matter confirmed. The newspaper “Israel Hajom” had previously reported on it.
Common criteria for disarmament
According to the paper, specialist teams from both countries are working to “develop clear, mutually agreed criteria that define what would be considered the practical disarmament of Hamas.” According to media reports, Hamas may be willing to give up heavy weapons such as rockets but retain light weapons.
Hamas soldiers in northern Gaza. Image: keystone
Concern about maintaining military capabilities
According to Israel Hajom, Israeli officials are concerned that Hamas may seek to retain most of the weapons and military capabilities it currently has. However, both Israel and the USA agree that such a scenario would be unacceptable. According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu informed Trump that Hamas still has around 60,000 Kalashnikov rifles in the Gaza Strip.
It was also agreed that the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip would also include the destruction of its underground tunnel system, the paper wrote.
If it fails, Israel would resume the fight against Hamas
“If Hamas does not disarm itself – as is widely expected in Israel – the responsibility for the next steps would again lie with Israel and the Israeli army,” the report said.
Donald Trump presented a peace plan for Gaza in the fall.Image: keystone
The second phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan stipulates, among other things, that Hamas will lay down its weapons and Israel will continue to withdraw its troops from the largely destroyed coastal area. However, Hamas has so far strictly rejected disarmament. It is considered extremely unlikely that the international stabilization force that is also planned will take over the disarmament of Hamas. (sda/dpa)
You might also be interested in these articles: