Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that no reconstruction work will begin in the war-torn Gaza Strip until the Palestinian resistance group Hamas is disarmed. He made the remarks on Thursday, February 19, during a televised address at a military event. On the same day, the first meeting of the newly formed 'Peace Board' took place in Washington, D.C.

The board was established following a ceasefire agreement signed last October, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, to end two years of conflict in Gaza. Nearly two dozen world leaders and senior officials attended the inaugural meeting. Discussions in Washington also explored the possibility of forming an 'international stabilization force' to ensure security in Gaza. The future of Hamas remains one of the most sensitive issues before the council.

U.S. officials reported positive progress in the talks, with growing pressure on Hamas to surrender its weapons. Israel has proposed strict measures, including confiscating even small personal firearms from Hamas members. However, it remains unclear how the Palestinian technical committee overseeing Gaza’s daily administration will handle the disarmament process.