Netanyahu: Hamas Must Disarm as Iran Renews Missile, Nuclear Efforts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last night that Hamas must be fully disarmed to advance Phase Two of the Gaza ceasefire, warned that Iran is returning to missile production and attempting to revive nuclear activity, and rejected claims of friction with Washington, in a wide-ranging interview with Bret Baier on Fox News.

The interview aired after Netanyahu’s meetings in Florida with President Donald Trump, which he described showed “the strength of the alliance between Israel and America,” adding that Israel “emerged from the seven-front war hoisted on us as the most powerful country in the Middle East.” He credited that outcome in part to “the tremendous alliance we have with President Trump.”

Asked about the Gaza ceasefire and why Phase Two has stalled, Netanyahu said the obstacle was “one word: disarmament.” He stated that Hamas still fields about 20,000 armed fighters and possesses roughly 60,000 rifles, which he said are used to execute Palestinians who oppose the group. “That’s what disarmament means,” Netanyahu said, describing the need to remove those weapons and dismantle “hundreds of kilometers of terror tunnels” but that “Hamas refuses to do it.”

Netanyahu said Israel would still attempt to advance the next phase, including efforts to establish an international stabilization force, but set a clear boundary. “If it can be done the easy way, fine. And if not, it will be done another way.”

He dismissed reports suggesting tension with Trump over Gaza, saying the president “cut right to the chase.” According to Netanyahu, Trump agreed that Hamas must be disarmed and showed no frustration over Israeli strikes conducted since the ceasefire. “He understands,” Netanyahu said, arguing that Israel’s actions were responses to ongoing terrorist threats and ceasefire breaches.

Turning to Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu addressed reports of “settler violence,” saying the incidents involved “about 70 kids from broken homes,” many from outside the area. “That’s vigilantism. I can’t accept that,” he said, rejecting any comparison to terrorism. “But compare that to over 1,000 terrorist attacks against settlers, families, mothers driving with their children. There is no symmetry,” Netanyahu said, noting frequent attacks on Israeli civilians. Asked where “the daylight” lies between Jerusalem and Washington on the issue, he said both sides want to ensure the territory is not used for terrorism, but stressed that “ultimately, Israel has to have the military control over this area.”

On Gaza’s future governance, Netanyahu said no alternative authority could emerge while Hamas remains armed. “It’s the one remaining step,” he said. “The point here is not to negotiate with Hamas.” He added, “Their job is to vanish. Stop. No more,” arguing that Gaza’s residents want that outcome more than anyone else.

Netanyahu then warned that Iran is rebuilding its capabilities. “They are going back to production,” he said of ballistic missiles, adding that Tehran is also trying to revive its nuclear program. He said Iran should not be allowed nuclear enrichment and must remove enriched material for inspections. While stressing that Israel does not seek escalation, he issued a clear warning: “We don’t seek escalation. If they do, all bets are off.”

He expressed optimism about expanding the Abraham Accords, saying “Hezbollah is a shadow of itself. The Houthis are not what they were. Hamas clearly not what they were. And Iran, too.” “People are open to peace agreements,” Netanyahu said, pointing to Israel’s military strength and what he called a “high-tech juggernaut” economy as factors encouraging normalization.

Addressing his ongoing corruption trial, Netanyahu said he has been under investigation for a decade and described the case as “a political trial.” Netanyahu said prosecutors accused him of taking a bribe in the form of “favorable coverage in a third-rate Internet site.” He said judges later told prosecutors that he had received negative coverage and instructed them to drop the bribery charge. “So what’s left?” Netanyahu said, recounting that he was questioned about a Bugs Bunny doll his son received decades ago and cigars from a friend. “That’s the trial. It’s ridiculous.” Responding to denials from President Isaac Herzog’s office that a pardon had been discussed, Netanyahu said he did not know the details of those conversations but insisted President Trump “knows this is ridiculous.”

Asked about criticism that he wants the war to continue for political reasons, Netanyahu rejected the claim. “This is so vicious and so false,” he said. “I’ve been to war since I was 18 years old. I joined the army and special forces. One of my best friends died in my arms from mortar shrapnel. I lost friends. I lost a brother.” Netanyahu said he has seen firsthand the grief of bereaved families and the cost of war. “You have to go through that to understand the cost of war and the pain of war. That’s the last thing I want,” he said. “The real victory would be the ability to translate that into the fruits of peace,” he said, adding that his mission is to lead Israel “into the search for peace” and secure “a future of peace, prosperity, and security.”

Reflecting on the lessons of October 7 and the rise of global antisemitism, Netanyahu said the events reinforced a warning rooted in Jewish history. “The lesson, actually, goes back to the Holocaust,” he said. “If somebody says they want to kill you, they want to destroy you, annihilate you, believe them. And be prepared at all times to fend them off.” He warned that antisemitism “starts with the Jews, but it never ends there,” calling its defeat an interest of all free societies.