JERUSALEM: Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas may soon be given a deadline to lay down its weapons.
“We estimate that in the coming days, Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and completely demilitarise Gaza,” Smotrich said in an interview with public broadcaster Kansas
“If it does not comply with it, the IDF (Israeli army) will have international legitimacy and American backing to do it itself, and the IDF is already preparing for this and is making plans,” said the minister, who is a member of Israel’s security cabinet charged with approving large-scale military operations.
Under the first phase of a US-sponsored ceasefire in Gaza that halted two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli army withdrew to positions behind a so-called Yellow Line, but still controls over half of the territory.
The second phase that officially began last month plans for a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army and the disarmament of Hamas, which the militant group has vehemently opposed.
“The (Israeli military) will definitely enter and occupy Gaza if Hamas does not disband,” Smotrich said.
Asked how the military would do this, he said “there are two or three alternatives right now that we are examining.”
The peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump also calls for the establishment of a 20,000-strong peacekeeping force, called the International Stabilization Force (ISF), to which several countries have committed troops.
Asked how the Israeli army would operate against Hamas when foreign soldiers are deployed on the ground, Smotrich said the latter would “pull out very quickly and allow the (Israeli military) to enter. This is coordinated with the Americans.”
“By the way, I don’t yet see them going in that fast,” he added of the ISF.
Israeli minister says army to occupy all Gaza if Hamas does not disarm
https://arab.news/27q22
Israeli minister says army to occupy all Gaza if Hamas does not disarm
- “The (Israeli military) will definitely enter and occupy Gaza if Hamas does not disband,” Smotrich said
- Asked how the military would do this, he said “there are two or three alternatives right now that we are examining”
Albanian president tours Petra as cooperation with Jordan strengthens
- President Bajram Begaj praised Jordan for promoting security and stability in the region
LONDON: Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and Albanian President Bajram Begaj discussed ways to expand cooperation in the health, education, information technology, and tourism sectors.
Begaj praised Jordan for promoting security and stability in the region during the meeting with Hassan in Amman on Monday. Both parties emphasized the need to intensify international efforts to prevent escalation in the region and to support peace and stability initiatives, according to the Petra news agency.
The president visited the ancient city of Petra on Monday as part of an official visit to Jordan, accompanied by Albania’s first lady, Armanda Begaj. They toured key landmarks in the city, including the siq and the treasury. They also met with Adnan Sawaier, chief commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, and Yazan Mahadin, commissioner for the Reserve and Tourism.
The visit aims to strengthen Jordanian-Albanian ties and highlight the role of cultural tourism in promoting dialogue and the ancient city’s global tourism status, the Petra news agency added.
