Overview
- Hailing a US request, Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs said a 60-day clock could start after Thursday’s Board of Peace session, warning the army will “complete the mission” if Hamas does not surrender all weapons.
- Hamas officials rejected or denied the ultimatum, with Mahmoud Mardawi saying no formal notice was received and Basem Naim tying any disarmament to implementation of earlier agreements and long-term political guarantees.
- President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace meets in Washington on February 19, with the chair citing more than $5 billion in pledged aid and commitments of personnel for a stabilisation force.
- Israel has told the US it will not accept any arrangement that leaves Hamas in Gaza’s governance, as reports say Hamas resists ceding authority to a technocratic committee and seeks to retain political control with only partial disarmament.
- An Israeli security source alleges Hamas is covertly collecting light arms from civilians to preserve stockpiles, while the fragile truce continues with Gaza authorities reporting more than 600 Palestinian deaths since the October ceasefire began.