Kerry: Hamas disarmament needed to resolve Gaza conflict

US secretary of state says continuing to work toward reinstating humanitarian cease-fire he hopes will lead to "sustainable" end to combat.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon make statements to reporters in Cairo (photo credit: REUTERS)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon make statements to reporters in Cairo
(photo credit: REUTERS)
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that the disarmament of Hamas and all terrorist groups in Gaza is necessary for any negotiation process aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict with Israel in a "lasting and meaningful way."
Kerry vowed that the US was dedicated to working with Israel and the international community to disarm Gaza terror organizations.
The top US diplomat said he hoped progress could be made to reinstitute an initial humanitarian cease-fire that would eventually lead to a longer-term truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
"Today, we are continuing to work toward establishing an unconditional, humanitarian cease-fire - one that could honor Eid (al-Fitr), which starts now, and could stop the fighting," Kerry said in Washington.
He said such a cease-fire must address an end to combat along with providing humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as ending the threat posed by terror tunnels leading from Gaza to Israel.
"The momentum generated by a humanitarian cease-fire is the best way to be able to negotiate and find out if you can put into place a sustainable cease-fire, one that addresses all the concerns," he said.