Hamas says path for Gaza must begin with end to ‘aggression’
The Hindu
Hamas demands an end to Israeli aggression as a prerequisite for Gaza's reconstruction amid international peace discussions.
Discussions on Gaza's future must begin with a total halt to Israeli "aggression", Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said after U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace met for the first time.
"Any political process or any arrangement under discussion concerning the Gaza Strip and the future of our Palestinian people must start with the total halt of aggression, the lifting of the blockade, and the guarantee of our people's legitimate national rights, first and foremost their right to freedom and self-determination," Hamas said in a statement Thursday (February 19, 2026).
Mr. Trump's board met for its inaugural session in Washington on Thursday (February 19, 2026), with a number of countries pledging money and personnel to rebuild the Palestinian territory, more than four months into a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted however that Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction begins.
"We agreed with our ally the U.S. that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarisation of Gaza," Mr. Netanyahu said.
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