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 territory. Netanyahu, as reported by AFP and Al Arabiya on Monday (6/7/2026), said that the residents of Gaza are free to choose 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 PM, this was achieved through a buffer zone established by Israel inside the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu also said that the elimination of the threat from Gaza has increased demand for housing in settlements near the Gaza border, referring to what he assessed as an improved security situation in the area. Netanyahu’s latest statement on Gaza was delivered as the spotlight begins to fade on the Palestinian enclave, which was devastated by the war that has raged since October 2023, triggered by a surprise attack by Hamas against Israel. The Gaza war dragged in Hamas’s allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as Iran, which is known to support the three militant groups in the Middle East region. More than two and a half years after the war erupted, Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis. Although a fragile ceasefire has been agreed upon since October 2025, efforts to end the war conclusively have faced a deadlock for months. The situation is increasingly concerning as the world’s attention is diverted from Gaza, especially since Israel, along with its ally the United States, became involved in a war against Iran at the end of February. Netanyahu, in his statement on Sunday (5/7), also discussed Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been engaged in fierce fighting with Hezbollah in recent months. Netanyahu stressed that US President Donald Trump did not ask Israel to refrain from action against Hezbollah tunnels discovered in Lebanon.