Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Gaza’s Hamas-controlled areas will be demilitarised, rejecting claims that the ceasefire leaves the group armed. Speaking in Jerusalem, he said Hamas disarmament “will happen the easy way or the hard way,” aligning his stance with the Trump-brokered 20-point plan guiding the current ceasefire. Washington has said demilitarisation will be monitored by independent observers, though Netanyahu gave no details on third-party forces. He also reaffirmed his long-standing opposition to Palestinian statehood. As Phase One of the ceasefire concludes, Hamas has returned 25 Israeli hostages’ bodies, while Israel has handed over 315 Palestinian bodies.
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