Smotrich Issues Chilling 72-Hour Ultimatum to Hamas as Gaza Tensions Reach Breaking Point
By SCM ONLINE REPORTER
ISRAEL’S firebrand Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued a scorched-earth ultimatum to Hamas: hand over your weapons now, or face a total military takeover of the Gaza Strip.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Middle East, the hardline minister warned that the clock is ticking for the terrorist group to demilitarize. Smotrich declared that if Hamas does not lay down its arms within days, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be ordered to seize “full control” of the entire territory.
The ultimatum marks a massive escalation in rhetoric from the Israeli government’s far-right wing. Speaking to supporters, Smotrich was blunt about the stakes:
The Demand: Complete and immediate demilitarization of all Hamas units.
The Threat: A permanent IDF presence and the dismantling of Hamas’s governing structures.
The Timeline: Sources suggest a window of only a few days remains before “decisive action” is taken.
”The era of containment is over,” a source close to the minister said. “It is either a Gaza without guns, or a Gaza under full Israeli sovereignty.”
Background: A Powder Keg Ready to Blow
The demand comes at a time of immense pressure on the Israeli cabinet. While international mediators have scrambled to broker long-term ceasefires, Smotrich and his allies have consistently pushed for a “total victory” strategy.
Gaza has been gripped by conflict since the October 7 attacks, and while the IDF already maintains a significant presence in several sectors, “full control” would imply a return to a long-term military administration not seen in decades.
Critics warn that such a move could:
Ignite a wider regional war involving Hezbollah in the north.
Strain ties with the UK and the US, who have called for a “two-state” path rather than re-occupation.
Endanger hostages still held within the Strip.
Hamas has historically rejected any calls to disarm, viewing their arsenal as their only leverage. If the group ignores Smotrich’s “line in the sand,” the world will be watching the border to see if the IDF receives the green light for a massive, final push into the heart of Gaza City and beyond.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office has yet to formally endorse the “days” timeline, but Smotrich’s influence in the coalition means his words carry the weight of a potential government shift.
”We are not asking anymore,” Smotrich reportedly told colleagues. “We are stating the price of continued defiance.”
