Hamas Demands End to 'Aggression' Before Gaza Rebuilding

Netanyahu insists Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction can begin.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said that any discussions on Gaza's future must start with a complete halt to Israeli 'aggression' and the lifting of the blockade. This comes after the first meeting of the US President's Board of Peace, where several countries pledged over $7 billion to rebuild the Palestinian territory. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction can begin.

Why it matters

The rebuilding of Gaza has been a contentious issue, with Hamas and Israel at odds over the preconditions. This highlights the ongoing tensions and lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has significant implications for regional stability and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The details

In a statement, Hamas said that any political process or arrangement concerning Gaza must start with a complete halt to Israeli 'aggression' and the lifting of the blockade, as well as guaranteeing the Palestinian people's 'legitimate national rights.' Meanwhile, Netanyahu reiterated that Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction can begin. The US President's Board of Peace met for the first time in Washington, where several countries, mostly in the Gulf, pledged over $7 billion to rebuild Gaza.

  • The US President's Board of Peace met for its inaugural session in Washington on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • The meeting came more than four months into a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The players

Hamas

The Palestinian Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Prime Minister of Israel, who has insisted that Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction of Gaza can begin.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose Board of Peace met for the first time to discuss the rebuilding of Gaza.

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What they’re saying

“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 (prothomalo.com)

“We agreed with our ally the US that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarisation of Gaza.”

— Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel (prothomalo.com)

The takeaway

The rebuilding of Gaza remains a contentious issue, with Hamas and Israel at odds over the preconditions. This highlights the ongoing challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the need for a comprehensive political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict.