War in Gaza Not Over Until Hamas Disarms: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Gaza war will only end after the Palestinian territory is demilitarised and Hamas agrees to give up arms.
On October 19, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the war in Gaza will not be considered over until Hamas is disarmed and the Gaza Strip is transformed into a demilitarised zone. His remarks came amid a fragile U.S.–brokered cease-fire and as Hamas handed over the remains of two additional Israeli hostages.
Netanyahu’s Conditions for Peace
Netanyahu emphasised that the so-called second phase of the truce agreement hinges on two key demands:
- Full disarmament of Hamas’s military wing.
- Complete demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip.
He added: “When that is successfully completed — hopefully in an easy way, but if not, in a hard way — then the war will end.”
Current Status and Tensions
- Hamas has so far handed over only part of the hostages’ remains, a key component of the first phase of the cease-fire pact.
- A senior Hamas official confirmed that the group intends to maintain security control in Gaza for the interim and cannot now commit to full disarmament.
- The U.S. State Department issued a warning of “credible reports” that Hamas may be planning attacks against civilians in Gaza, which would breach the cease-fir
Why It Matters
The Israeli government’s insistence on disarmament as a precondition for ending the war highlights the fragility of the current cease-fire and the scale of the challenge ahead. Disarming Hamas does not only mean handing over weapons—it involves reshaping security, governance and the basic power structure within Gaza.
Final Take
Netanyahu’s remarks clarify that while active large-scale hostilities may be halted, Israel views the conflict as unresolved until structural change is enforced within Gaza. Whether the transition to peace will proceed smoothly or take “a hard way” remains uncertain.
