Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told members of Israel’s security cabinet that the country may ultimately need to dismantle Hamas’ weapons capabilities on its own, as a deadline for the group’s disarmament approaches without clear progress.
According to remarks reported Sunday evening, Netanyahu indicated that President Donald Trump shares the view that Hamas is unlikely to voluntarily surrender its arsenal.
Addressing cabinet ministers, Netanyahu said, “Trump understands that a foreign coalition will not succeed in disarming Hamas. He failed to assemble a coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz, so he also understands that building a coalition to disarm Hamas is less realistic—we will have to do it ourselves.”
The comments come as the timeline set for Hamas to relinquish its weapons is set to expire this week. Meanwhile, discussions tied to a broader diplomatic effort are ongoing.
A source familiar with talks involving Trump’s peace council and Hamas leadership said the coming days will be decisive. “This week we will know if Hamas will disarm as part of an agreement.”
The source added that the outcome could take different forms depending on developments. “This week we will know where things are headed. Whether there is voluntary disarmament or whether it will happen ‘by other means’,” echoing language previously used by Trump.
According to the source, negotiations are continuing at an intense pace, with the Trump administration and its representatives maintaining focus on Gaza even as attention shifts to Iran and Lebanon.
The report also noted that some of the contacts are being facilitated by Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of the peace council, who has reportedly met with senior Hamas officials in Cairo as part of the ongoing efforts.