Benjamin Netanyahu insists the Gaza war will continue until Hamas is disarmed and the territory fully demilitarised under the ongoing ceasefire framework

Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the war in Gaza will not end until Hamas is disarmed and the Palestinian enclave completely demilitarised, reaffirming Israel’s tough stance despite a fragile ceasefire.

Also read: Trump Unveils Gaza Peace Plan Backed by Netanyahu

The Israeli Prime Minister made the declaration on Saturday during an interview on Channel 14, saying the completion of the ceasefire’s second phase hinged on Hamas relinquishing its weapons.

“Phase B also involves the disarming of Hamas — or more precisely, the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, following the stripping of Hamas of its weapons,” Netanyahu said.

“When that is successfully completed — hopefully in an easy way, but if not, in a hard way — then the war will end.”

His remarks came as Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, announced plans to hand over the remains of two more hostages on Saturday night.

The Israeli military confirmed that a Red Cross team was en route to receive “several” bodies shortly before 11:00pm local time.

The fate of the dead hostages has become a central obstacle in executing the ceasefire’s first phase, with Israel linking the reopening of the key Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to the return of all remains.

Under the US-brokered truce, Hamas has released 20 living hostages along with the remains of 10 others, including nine Israelis and one Nepalese national. In return, Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and 135 bodies since the truce began on October 10.

Hamas claimed it needed more time and technical support to recover the remaining bodies buried under Gaza’s rubble. “The two bodies to be returned on Saturday were recovered earlier today,” the group said on Telegram.

Despite tentative cooperation, Netanyahu’s office said he had ordered that the Rafah crossing remain closed until further notice, reiterating that its reopening “will be considered based on how Hamas fulfils its part in returning the hostages and implementing the agreed-upon framework.”

Meanwhile, Tom Fletcher, head of UN humanitarian relief in Gaza, described the scale of destruction as “absolutely devastating”. Speaking to AFP, he said: “

This is a vast part of the city — just a wasteland. We have a massive 60-day plan now to surge in food, rebuild health services, bring in tents for the winter, and get hundreds of thousands of children back into school.”

Despite the closure of Rafah, aid deliveries continue through Israeli checkpoints. According to the UN humanitarian office, around 950 trucks carrying aid and commercial supplies entered Gaza on Thursday alone.

However, scattered violence persists. Gaza’s civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority, said nine Palestinians — including four children — were killed when Israeli tanks fired at a bus near Gaza City.

At Al-Ahli Hospital, grieving relatives mourned as the bodies lay wrapped in white shrouds. “My daughter, her children and her husband; my son, his children and his wife were killed. What did they do wrong?” cried Umm Mohammed Shaaban, a surviving family member.

The Israeli military said troops fired at a “suspicious vehicle” that posed an imminent threat after ignoring warning shots.

Also read: US government shutdown impact drives gold to new highs

As both sides struggle to maintain the truce, Netanyahu’s comments signal Israel’s determination to pursue Hamas’s disarmament — a condition that could define how and when this long and devastating conflict finally ends.