Israel’s Ultimatum to Hamas: A Potential Military Response Looms

Bezalel Smotrich Israel’s Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionism party announced in a recent interview with the official radio station Kan Reshet Bet that Hamas will receive a ‘final ultimatum’ regarding disarmament in the coming days. Should Hamas refuse to comply the Israeli army is prepared to take action with ‘support from the United States and international legitimacy.’

Smotrich emphasized that Israel has not wavered in its objective to dismantle Hamas but has allowed the U.S. President Donald Trump the opportunity to address the situation in his own manner. He indicated that official timelines for ‘complete disarmament of Gaza’ will be declared imminently.

According to the Israeli official failure by Hamas to meet this deadline would result in the Israeli army returning to areas it previously vacated effectively reoccupying the Gaza Strip.