Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Hamas is disarmed in Gaza, rejecting any plans that would allow the group to retain its weapons. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu insisted that the area will be demilitarized, regardless of the method required. His remarks come as the United States considers rebuilding parts of Gaza before Hamas is disarmed and ahead of a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution supporting a new plan for Gaza and a potential pathway to Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu also reiterated his long-standing opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, emphasizing that his stance remains unchanged despite both external and internal pressures. The comments follow calls from his political allies to make Israel's position on Palestinian statehood unequivocally clear after a joint statement by several nations highlighted a possible route to statehood under the latest United States proposal.