Israel Gives Hamas 60 Days to Disarm

While talks between the United States and Iran progress in Geneva, The Times of Israel reports that Israel is giving Hamas 60 days to fully disarm; otherwise, military operations will resume. Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs echoed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that the terror group must surrender its small arms, including AK-47 assault rifles, and relinquish its hold on Gaza.

Fuchs clarified that he is unsure when the 60-day period starts, but it may begin with Thursday’s Board of Peace conference.

During that time, Hamas “will have to give up all of its weapons,” including rifles, he said, asserting that the terror group’s AK-47s “will be taken from them entirely.”

“We will evaluate it,” he said. “If it works, great. If not, then the IDF will have to complete the mission.”

He added that it was a “reasonable estimate” that before Israel’s next election — which is currently set for October but could be moved up to June — either Hamas will have given up its weapons or the IDF will be in the midst of an intensive new military campaign in Gaza.

Fuchs said there were many Gaza tunnels that also needed to be destroyed as part of the process.

Netanyahu stated that Hamas still holds around 60,000 assault rifles. However, a report in The New York Times claimed that the terror group may be allowed to keep what are described as “small arms,” surrendering only weapons capable of striking Israel.

Meanwhile, the Board of Peace’s first meeting is scheduled for Thursday. This comes as the IDF has conducted strikes against terror operatives in Rafah. The Fellowship and our supporters stand with the men and women of the IDF and pray for peace — shalom — on all fronts.