Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday revised a statement that had challenged the U.S.-led diplomatic effort to disarm Hamas, deleting the line that 'we all understand that this won't happen' and instead stating the IDF is prepared to eliminate the terror group 'in accordance with enabling political conditions,' according to Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13/Army Radio). Katz also clarified that the emigration plan for Gaza will proceed 'on a large scale' when the U.S. administration decides to return to the initiative.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday revised a statement that had drawn a confrontational tone toward the U.S. administration over Hamas disarmament, removing the assertion that the American-led plan 'won't happen' and aligning his language with the diplomatic effort.
The original statement, published at 14:50 and reported by The Zioneer, had said that 'we all understand that disarming Hamas won't happen' through the U.S.-led political process, and that the IDF was prepared to 'eliminate Hamas and finish the job.' In the correction, issued at 15:33, Katz deleted that skeptical phrase and instead stated the IDF is prepared to eliminate the terror group 'in accordance with enabling political conditions.'
Katz also addressed the emigration plan for Gaza, clarifying that it will be advanced 'on a large scale' when the U.S. administration decides to return to and promote the initiative. He noted that in the meantime, a team led by the Prime Minister is carrying out various actions on the matter.
The correction comes amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli discussions over a framework for disarming Hamas and reconstructing Gaza. As The Zioneer has reported, the question of whether diplomatic agreements can achieve Hamas disarmament has been a point of tension between Jerusalem and Washington.
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