Israel Hayom has learned that Azerbaijan – an ally of Israel that considered joining the force several weeks ago – conveyed in recent days the message that it will not agree to endanger the lives of its soldiers in Gaza. In Baku, as in other countries, officials are currently discussing participation in the ISF as part of reconstruction processes and maintaining calm, but not at the stage currently required of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Strip.

During Thursday's cabinet session, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed to ministers a fundamental agreement exists between him and President Donald Trump's representatives: if no alternative actor emerges to eliminate Hamas, and if the organization refuses voluntary disarmament, Israel assumes the mission. Both Netanyahu and IDF representatives at the Kiryat Gat international headquarters hear explicit American commitments to Gaza demilitarization, as Trump's plan stipulates.

"Hamas growing stronger"

During Thursday's Diplomatic-Security Cabinet session, IDF and Shin Bet representatives briefed ministers that Hamas has not only failed to surrender weapons as pledged, but actively exploits the period for renewed armament and force building. The Shin Bet representative stated, "Hamas is exploiting the ceasefire to strengthen its power to prepare against us, in case we enter to operate in the red side of Gaza, and also to appoint officials in the organization."

The intelligence assessment stressed the organization exploits dual-use materials entering Gaza through international supply channels to rearm. The terrorists additionally gather IDF ordnance fragments, converting them for their purposes, including explosive device production. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted in this context, "every day the Americans search for who will demilitarize Gaza, they (Hamas) grow stronger."

Netanyahu added, "it's clear from all contacts that if there's no external force, we're demilitarizing." Netanyahu also disclosed he demanded Americans postpone Gaza rehabilitation until demilitarization implementation. "I told the Americans that they must ensure demilitarization on the ground of Hamas, before any rehabilitation," he stated.

According to him, "The Americans agree that there won't be rehabilitation in the green side (held by the IDF) as long as there's no rehabilitation in the red side (held by Hamas)." It should be noted that according to sources close to the White House, this principle is accepted by Jared Kushner and he currently doesn't expect Gaza rehabilitation to begin before the military threat posed by Hamas is removed.

Israel Hayom has learned that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir detailed at the previous cabinet meeting, last Thursday ten days ago, from which points in the Gaza Strip the IDF must not withdraw under any circumstances. According to the chief of staff, even if the unexpected occurs and Hamas lays down its weapons, the IDF must show presence in the area. Zamir's position is also that reconstruction of Gaza should not be agreed to in any part of the Strip without demilitarization being carried out.

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Netanyahu made the comments with families of the Forum of Heroism, which comprises families who lost loved ones in the October 7 massacre and the Iron Swords war.

During the meeting, the prime minister clarified that "we will not proceed to any of the 21 clauses of the Trump plan until the first clause – the release of all the hostages, living and deceased, until the last of the hostages, every single one of them, has crossed into Israeli territory – we will not proceed to any other clause." Netanyahu also stated that "the Palestinian Authority will not govern Gaza the day after. No representative of Hamas and no representative of the Palestinian Authority will be involved in controlling the Gaza Strip," and that "Israel will be responsible for and involved in the demilitarization of weapons in the Strip."

Netanyahu also conveyed during the meeting that "if the hostages are not released by the deadline that President Donald Trump set – Israel will return to fighting with the full support of all the involved countries." Netanyahu further noted that "in the most recent operation, we succeeded in changing the situation from one in which Israel was isolated to one in which Hamas is isolated."

A member of the Forum of Heroism management, bereaved father Itzik Bunzel, noted: "I left the prime minister with a full understanding, and I received clear answers to my questions. I understood that the prime minister is resolute that the first clause – the release of all the hostages – is the sole gateway for continuing the implementation of the other clauses. I was convinced that until the last of the hostages returns home, the prime minister does not plan to advance any part from the remaining clauses. And he intends, should this not occur, to continue intense fighting until the collapse of Hamas and the return of the hostages ourselves. The prime minister also hopes and expects that the first condition will be met, but if it is not, Israel will return to intense fighting in Gaza City and will topple Hamas, so the goals of the war have not been altered and the prime minister stands by their execution."

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