Netanyahu says no reconstruction in Gaza as Israel kills two

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would not allow reconstruction in Gaza before Palestinian factions there including Hamas give up their weapons, as Israel killed two more people in the devastated territory.

“There will be no reconstruction in Gaza without dismantling and demilitarizing the Strip,” Netanyahu said at a weekly meeting of the Israeli cabinet. “Gazans should have freedom of choice: Whoever wants to leave should be able to do so, and whoever stays cannot threaten us.”

Netanyahu’s remarks violate the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by the Donald Trump administration in October 2025.

This came as Israel killed two people in Gaza in its latest strike on the territory.

Medics said the two people were killed when an airstrike hit a group of people at the Omar Al-Mokhtar road in the heart of the city, north of the enclave. Several others were wounded, they added.

Israel continues to occupy around 70% of the Gaza Strip, while continuing deadly attacks in the territory, killing over 1,066 people there since the ceasefire deal was signed.

The ceasefire deal stipulates the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip and the initiation of reconstruction while Palestinian factions disarm.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have been unwilling to give up their weapons without a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to attacks on the territory.

Netanyahu’s remarks come amid report that Trump’s “Board of Peace” intends to proceed with reconstruction in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control without linking this to the disarmament of Hamas.

The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire is supposed to see the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, alongside reconstruction. Palestinian factions are then supposed to start disarming.

However Netanyahu is insisting that disarmament happens first, and there is no sign that the Israeli army will withdraw from Gaza or end its attacks.