Netanyahu Urges Hamas to Surrender Arms, Offers Exile for Leaders Amid Gaza Strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Hamas to disarm and offered exile to its leaders amid ongoing violence following a ceasefire collapse. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens with significant casualties and aid shortages. Ongoing diplomatic efforts face challenges, as regional tensions rise with Houthi attacks in support of the Palestinians.
hassan benyoub 
Jerusalem, March 30, 2025 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Hamas to lay down its weapons on Sunday, proposing that its leaders could leave Gaza in exile, as Israel continues its deadly bombardment of the Palestinian enclave. The statement comes amid renewed violence following the collapse of a fragile truce on March 18, with airstrikes in southern Gaza’s Khan Younes killing at least 17 people, mostly women and children, according to Nasser Hospital.
The latest escalation saw a tragic strike on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The attack hit a house and a tent sheltering displaced families, claiming eight lives, including five children, reported Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s rescue services. This violence follows the breakdown of a ceasefire that had held since January 19, ending 15 months of war sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
During a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu claimed military pressure is yielding results, noting “cracks” in negotiations with Hamas. “Hamas must disarm. Its leaders will then be allowed to depart,” he stated, framing the offer as a path to de-escalation. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have tabled a new ceasefire proposal, which both Israel and Hamas acknowledged receiving on Saturday. While Israel submitted a counter-proposal, Hamas’s Khalil al-Haya endorsed the plan but insisted that “the weapons of resistance” are non-negotiable.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Gaza’s humanitarian situation has reached a breaking point. Israel’s closure of aid crossings since March 2—intended to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages—has displaced nearly all of the territory’s 2.4 million residents. The United Nations warns of dire shortages of food, water, and medical care, with the war’s toll now exceeding 50,277 deaths in Gaza, per the Hamas-run Health Ministry, a figure deemed reliable by the UN. In Israel, the conflict has claimed 1,218 lives, based on official data compiled by AFP.
Regional Tensions and Houthi Attacks
Beyond Gaza, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels resumed attacks in solidarity with Palestinians, launching a ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. Israel’s military intercepted it before it crossed the border, though air raid sirens echoed across the country. The Houthis, who paused such strikes during the truce, have also targeted Red Sea shipping lanes vital to global trade, citing links to Israel.
Diplomatic Standoff and Netanyahu’s Next Move
Efforts by mediators to restore the ceasefire and free the remaining 58 Israeli hostages—34 of whom are believed dead, per the military—face steep hurdles. Hamas’s refusal to disarm clashes with Israel’s demands, stalling progress. Meanwhile, Netanyahu, under a 2024 International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, plans a trip to Hungary on April 2 to meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban, returning on April 6.
As Gaza endures relentless strikes and a humanitarian catastrophe, Netanyahu’s proposal seems unlikely to sway Hamas, prolonging a conflict with no end in sight. With regional threats rising and diplomacy faltering, the international community watches anxiously for a breakthrough.
