 "Hamas refuses to lay down arms as Netanyahu & Trump gear up for talks")
The armed wing of Hamas reiterated on Monday that it would not surrender its weapons, a key sticking point ahead of crucial talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
“Our people are defending themselves and will not give up their weapons as long as the occupation remains,” said the new spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades in a video statement.
This comes as Netanyahu is set to meet Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday, as the two leaders look to advance the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce. Netanyahu is also expected to push the US to take a tougher stance on Iran amid growing regional tensions.
The meeting at Trump’s Florida estate will be the fifth US-based in-person meeting between the two leaders this year. Some White House officials have expressed concern that both Israel and Hamas are dragging their feet on the second phase of the ceasefire.
Trump, who said Netanyahu requested the talks, is reportedly eager to announce a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilisation force as early as January. The meeting is scheduled for 1 pm local time (1800 GMT).
Focus on phase two
Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said Netanyahu will discuss the second phase of the agreement, which involves making sure that “Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is demilitarised.”
He will also address “the danger Iran poses not only to the region of the Middle East, but the United States as well,” Bedrosian added before flying out with Netanyahu.
Quick Reads
View AllRecent reports suggest Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile arsenal following the 12-day war with Israel in June. Iran dismissed the reports on Monday as a “psychological operation” and warned that renewed aggression would “result in harsher consequences” for Israel.
Netanyahu’s visit comes after a whirlwind of diplomacy in Palm Beach, where Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. Gershon Baskin, co-head of the Alliance for Two States, said the timing is crucial. “Phase two has to begin,” he said. “I think the Americans realize that it’s late because Hamas has had too much time to re-establish its presence,” he told AFP.
While Trump is reportedly planning to convene a new Gaza “Board of Peace” at the Davos forum in January, some senior US officials are growing exasperated with Netanyahu’s approach.
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