Story perspectives

Israel's 60-Day Ultimatum: Disarm Hamas or Face Action

2/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Israel announced a 60-day ultimatum for Hamas to disarm, threatening military action if it fails to comply.
Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs of Israel said the timeline was requested by the U.S. and may begin after a February 19 Board of Peace meeting.
The ceasefire since October has coincided with over 72,000 Gaza deaths, while Hamas rejects disarmament and proposes storing or freezing weapons.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 Oslo Accords were a landmark agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the Palestine Liberation Organization recognizing Israel and Israel allowing limited Palestinian self-governance. This framework aimed to address the aspirations of over 2 million Palestinians. However, the failure of subsequent agreements and ongoing violence, including 72,000 deaths in Gaza, underscores the persistent challenges in achieving lasting peace.

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Story summary

Israel announced a 60-day ultimatum for Hamas to disarm, threatening military action if it fails to comply.
Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs of Israel said the timeline was requested by the U.S. and may begin after a February 19 Board of Peace meeting.
The ceasefire since October has coincided with over 72,000 Gaza deaths, while Hamas rejects disarmament and proposes storing or freezing weapons.

1 / 2