Today, Sunday, Ben Gvir published a new tweet on his official account on ‘X’, from inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque during a provocative tour of the mosque and his performance of Talmudic rituals within its courtyards. Ben Gvir stated from the heart of Al-Aqsa Mosque: “We must occupy the entire Gaza Strip, declare sovereignty over it, and support voluntary migration.” He didn’t stop there; he claimed that this is the way to return Israeli captives and win the war against the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
In a related context, Israeli media reported that the Prime Minister will give Hamas a final deadline to return the detainees in coordination with the United States, after US President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, claimed that “Hamas” showed readiness to surrender its weapons. Israeli Channel 12 indicated that the cabinet will meet tomorrow, Monday, to make decisions regarding the next steps in Gaza.
The channel revealed advanced contacts between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump regarding a proposal that gives “Hamas” a deadline to release all prisoners, emphasizing that the proposal aims to reach a comprehensive agreement to manage the sector and improve security and humanitarian conditions.
Steve Witkoff had informed the families of the hostages that he is working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. Witkoff confirmed that “Hamas” is ready to disarm to end the war, although the movement has repeatedly stated it will not lay down its arms.
Hamas responded decisively to what some media outlets published, quoting the US envoy Witkoff, that the movement showed readiness to disarm. Hamas stated in a statement: “We reiterate that resistance and its weapons are a national and legal entitlement as long as the occupation exists, as endorsed by international covenants and norms, and cannot be abandoned except by fully restoring our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and Jerusalem as its capital.”
This comes amid escalating international pressures and political initiatives led by Washington through its envoy Witkoff, with declared support from US President Donald Trump, who promotes a reconstruction plan in Gaza in exchange for ending “Hamas’s military capability.” Israel considers disarming “Hamas” a fundamental condition for any agreement, but the movement has repeatedly affirmed its unwillingness to disarm.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described any future independent Palestinian state as a platform for destroying Israel, stating that security control over Palestinian territories must remain in Israel’s hands for this reason.
