Netanyahu calls for expulsion of Hamas following UN vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 18th intensified pressure on Hamas, urging regional governments to work with Israel to remove the group from Gaza, reports Reuters.

His remarks come after the U.N. Security Council approved President Donald Trump’s multi-phase proposal to end the conflict. Netanyahu had expressed support for the U.S. initiative during a visit to Washington in late September. His latest statements, however, highlight emerging differences between Jerusalem and Washington over how the proposal should be implemented.

Hamas has also voiced objections to elements of the plan, reports indicate that Hamas is unwilling to commit to full disarmament.

In a series of posts on X published on November 18th, Netanyahu praised Trump and reiterated that the government views the proposal as a path towards regional stability because it calls for the “full demilitarization, disarmament, and deradicalization of Gaza.”

He added that Israel “extends its hand in peace and prosperity” and appealed to neighbouring states to “join us in expelling Hamas and its supporters from the region.”

A spokesperson later said the comment referred to “ensuring there is no Hamas in Gaza as outlined in the 20-point plan, and Hamas has no ability to govern the Palestinian people inside the Gaza Strip.”

Trump’s plan states that Hamas members who decommission their weapons will receive amnesty and safe passage to third countries if they choose to leave Gaza, and it requires the group to forgo any role in Gaza’s governance.

A Security Council resolution has authorised a multinational force to stabilise Gaza and states that a “Board of Peace” will be overseeing reconstruction. Hamas has criticised the resolution, claiming it fails to meet Palestinian political and humanitarian demands and has insisted any foreign force remains confined to Gaza borders to carry out ceasefire monitoring under U.N. oversight.

Some Palestinians displaced by the conflict appear to express conditional support for an international deployment, including Abu Abdallah, a businessman displaced in central Gaza. He said: “Hamas can’t decide our fate alone, but we also don’t want to get rid of one occupation, Israel, and get another international occupation.” Since the ceasefire came into effect, Israel continues to consistently violate the agreement.

Reuters, Maghrebi.org