Cohen signals Israel’s resolve: diplomacy exhausted, Hamas defiance ensures decisive Israeli action to secure peace.
Israeli minister Eli Cohen stated unequivocally that Israel will ultimately be forced to disarm the Hamas terrorist organization, warning that no external actor has the will or capability to complete the task.
Speaking to Kan Reshet Bet, Cohen explained that voluntary disarmament by Hamas is impossible, and international forces—while theoretically an option—are unlikely to confront the terror group meaningfully. “Only Israel is capable of doing this,” he stressed, making clear that force will be unavoidable if security is to be restored.
On the Gaza ceasefire, Cohen underscored that Israel will not advance beyond Phase A until the return of Israeli hero Ran Gvili, describing his return as a non-negotiable condition for any further agreements. He revealed that intensive diplomatic and operational efforts are ongoing behind the scenes to secure Gvili’s release.
Cohen also highlighted Israel’s strategic leverage, noting a direct link between Hamas violations of the Gaza agreement and Israel’s regional energy diplomacy—particularly the gas arrangements with Egypt. According to Cohen, Israel has already used economic and diplomatic tools to deter violations and reinforce red lines.
The message from Jerusalem is unambiguous: terror will not be tolerated, agreements will be enforced, and Israel will act decisively when others hesitate.
