Israeli Foreign Minister Says Middle East Remains Unstable If Hamas Still POWERs In Gaza

JAKARTA - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the still power of Hamas in the Gaza Strip poses a threat to Israel and the region, as the Palestinian enclave's future is unclear, when a ceasefire between Palestinian militant groups and Israel takes effect Sunday.

Foreign Minister Sa'ar said Hamas would be a threat to Israel and the rest of the region if the group maintained control in Gaza.

"The Hamas administration in Gaza not only jeopardizes Israel's security, but also a nightmare for Palestine itself," which led to a tiring 15-month war in Gaza and the region, Foreign Minister Sa'ar told foreign media at a briefing in Jerusalem. January 20.

"If (Hamas) remains in power, the regional instability it causes may continue," he added.

Foreign Minister Sa'ar echoed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments on Sunday night, which took effect this morning was a "temporary ceasefire," and a more permanent ceasefire would be negotiated only from the 16th day of the agreement.

"I hope we will achieve it, but it is not in our hands yet," he said.

"If the deal that benefits Israel is not reached including overthrowing Hamas and repatriating all hostages then fighting will happen again," added Sa'ar.

Quoted from Reuters, there have been no detailed plans drawn up regarding the Gaza government after the war. Hamas' return to control in Gaza will test Israel's commitment to the ceasefire, which has said it will continue the war unless the militant group that has ruled the enclave since 2007 has been completely dissolved.

Separately, Mike Waltz, US-elected President Donald Trump's national security adviser said if Hamas reneged on the agreement, the United States would support Israel "in doing what it should."

"Hamas will never rule Gaza. That is completely unacceptable," he stressed.

As previously reported, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect from 11:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, withdrawing from its original plan at 08:30 p.m. after 15 months of siege and genocide by Israel, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The ceasefire agreement was announced by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday (15/1), after mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

The ceasefire deal will take place in three stages, with the first phase lasting 42 days, in which further details from the second and third stages will be negotiated.

Israel blames Hamas for delaying for not yet handing over the three hostages who will be released for the first time on Sunday.

Hamas, who said there were technical problems, finally handed over a list of three Israeli hostages who would be released two hours later, quoted by Reuters.

The ceasefire deal regulates the gradual release of 33 hostages during the first six weeks of phase.

Palestinian health authorities have confirmed that 13 people died as a result of Israeli attacks during the delay in the implementation of the ceasefire.

After the first three hostages were repatriated on Sunday, Israel is expected to release the first Palestinian prisoners under the agreement. According to Hamas, 90 Palestinians who will be released on Sunday include 69 women and 21 teenage boys.