Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would completely eliminate Hamas, rejecting any return to what he termed "Hamastan," in his first public remarks following former US President Donald Trump’s statement that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire plan in Gaza.
“There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a ‘Hamastan’. We’re not going back to that. It’s over,” Netanyahu stated during a meeting at the Trans-Israel pipeline, vowing to destroy Hamas “down to their very foundation.”
His comments came as Hamas acknowledged receiving new ceasefire proposals from Egypt and Qatar, which the group is currently reviewing. In its statement, Hamas emphasized its goal to end the war and secure a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Trump had earlier claimed that Israel agreed to key terms for a temporary halt in fighting, describing it as a “final offer” designed to pause hostilities and push forward diplomatic solutions.
Reactions in Gaza were mixed.
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Kamal, a resident of Gaza City, expressed cautious hope: “Even if for two months, it would save thousands of innocent lives.”
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Adnan Al-Assar, from Khan Younis, said, “We hope he is serious, like during the Israeli-Iranian war when he said the war should stop, and it stopped.”
Despite international pressure, Netanyahu faces internal resistance. Several members of his right-wing coalition strongly oppose any long-term truce with Hamas.
West Bank Annexation Push Adds Tension
Amid the ceasefire talks, 15 Likud ministers and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana signed a petition urging annexation of the West Bank before the summer Knesset recess. The move adds to the mounting pressure on Netanyahu ahead of his upcoming visit to Washington, where he is expected to hold further discussions with Trump, particularly around hostage releases and Gaza policy.
Meanwhile, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close Netanyahu ally, is already in the US for key talks concerning both Iran and Gaza. Notably, Dermer did not sign the annexation petition.
These developments follow the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which added urgency to the calls for ceasefire and regional de-escalation.
