Israel has expressed significant security worries to the White House in relation to the proposed disarmament deal with Hamas, as per an Israeli official’s statement on Sunday. Doron Spielman, the spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, conveyed that Israel’s intelligence evaluation indicates that Hamas is focused on rebuilding its military rather than genuinely disarming. He emphasized that the Israeli military will not retreat from Gaza, where it currently governs over 60% of the region, until Hamas relinquishes its weapons.
According to Spielman, if Israel withdraws before Hamas completely disarms, there is a risk that Hamas will swiftly expand its presence across Gaza, reconstruct its terrorist infrastructure, pose threats to Israeli communities, and potentially carry out attacks similar to the one in 2023 that instigated the conflict in the Gaza Strip. He stressed that true disarmament entails physically surrendering weapons with no compromises.
These remarks come following Hamas’ recent statement indicating their willingness to start disarming as part of the ceasefire brokered by the U.S. nine months ago to end the prolonged conflict. Although this signals a potential breakthrough in resolving the conflict, numerous obstacles, stipulations, and extended timelines are still in place.
Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal requires Hamas to surrender weapons, dismantle its extensive tunnel network, facilitate Israeli forces’ withdrawal from Gaza, introduce a new technocratic Palestinian government, deploy an international security force, and reconstruct the damaged Palestinian enclave. The issue of Hamas disarming has been a major sticking point, causing negotiations to stall for months.
In a verified copy of the agreement obtained by the AP, it is outlined that all weapons under the control of the Hamas-run police will be handed over to the U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee upon its arrival in Gaza. The subsequent processes of decommissioning heavy weaponry, dismantling military production facilities and tunnels, and initiating a phased Israeli withdrawal are contingent on the arrival of the Palestinian committee and international security forces.
The areas of Gaza under Israeli control have suffered extensive destruction and depopulation, with the majority of Palestinians residing in impoverished conditions. Israel is unlikely to make significant concessions or withdraw forces before its upcoming elections in October. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a challenging re-election campaign, with pressure from far-right coalition partners to maintain a tough stance on Hamas. The 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants, which claimed numerous lives, continues to influence the political landscape.
Despite Israel’s appreciation for Trump’s commitment to security and achieving a lasting resolution, their stance on disarmament is firmly rooted in intelligence reports indicating Hamas’ ongoing militarization efforts. Details of Israel’s concerns conveyed to the White House are not fully disclosed, but there have been discussions with Tony Blair, a member of the Board of Peace led by Trump. Israel’s requests reportedly include freedom to conduct military operations in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire agreement was signed last year, Israel has conducted strikes on Gaza, citing targeting of Hamas and its infrastructure. Recent strikes have resulted in casualties, including children, and have been justified by the Israeli military as directed at Hamas military operatives.
