Netanyahu Insists Gaza Reconstruction Cannot Begin Without Disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip will not begin without the dismantling of military infrastructure in the Palestinian enclave and the disarmament of militant groups in the region.

Netanyahu, as reported by AFP and Al Arabiya on Monday (6/7/2026), stated that Gaza residents are free to choose whether to stay or leave, provided they do not pose a threat. “The threat from Gaza has been eliminated,” Netanyahu said in his latest statement on Sunday (5/7) local time.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister, this has been achieved through a buffer zone established by Israel within the Gaza Strip territory. Netanyahu also noted that the removal of the threat from Gaza has increased the demand for housing in settlements near the Gaza border, citing a security situation that he believes has improved in the area.

Netanyahu’s latest remarks regarding Gaza come as international attention begins to wane from the Palestinian enclave, which has been devastated by the war raging since October 2023, triggered by the sudden Hamas attack on Israel. The Gaza war has drawn in Hamas allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as Iran, which is known to support these three militant groups in the Middle East region.

More than two and a half years after the war began, Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis. Although a fragile ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, efforts to bring a definitive end to the war have faced a deadlock for months.

The situation has become increasingly dire as global attention has shifted away from Gaza, particularly since Israel, alongside its ally the United States, became involved in a war against Iran in late February. In his statement on Sunday (5/7), Netanyahu also addressed the situation in Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah in recent months. Netanyahu emphasised that US President Donald Trump has not requested Israel to refrain from taking action against Hezbollah tunnels discovered in Lebanon.