Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the disarmament of Hamas as a key and decisive obstacle to the transition to the second phase of the US peace plan for Gaza, stressing that without the full surrender of the organization’s weapons and underground military infrastructure there can be no progress.

Speaking on the US Fox News network, Netanyahu was asked what is making it difficult to move to the second phase of Washington’s plan for Gaza. “One word: disarmament,” he replied, adding that Hamas had pledged to disarm but “refuses to do so.”

U.S. officials have claimed that Hamas agreed to disarm shortly before the first phase of the deal was signed on Oct. 9. The Palestinian organization, however, has repeatedly denied that it has made such a commitment.

“Tens of thousands of Kalashnikovs and hundreds of kilometers of tunnels”

The Israeli prime minister claimed that Hamas still has significant military power. “They still have about 20,000 people with Kalashnikovs, which they use from time to time to execute anyone who does not want their tyranny to continue,” he said.

According to him, in total the organisation has about 60,000 AK rifles. “This means disarmament: taking all these weapons, removing them from their hands and dismantling the terrorist tunnels they still have – hundreds of kilometres of underground tunnels. Hamas refuses to do it,” he said.

“To be given a chance” in the second phase

Asked whether he believes the second phase of the Gaza plan can go ahead even if Hamas does not accept disarmament, Netanyahu replied that “it must be given a chance.”

As part of the US plan, he said, the deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza is envisaged. “There is an effort to establish an international force. So far it has not come to fruition, but we will give it a chance,” he said.

“If it is not done the easy way, it will be done differently”

In closing, the Israeli prime minister left open the possibility of alternative options if the diplomatic route fails. “If it can be done the easy way, fine. If not, it will be done in another way,” he said, stressing that for Israel the disarmament of Hamas is a non-negotiable precondition for any next phase in the post-war management of Gaza.