Israel has communicated significant security concerns to the White House regarding a proposed deal for Hamas disarmament, an Israeli official stated. The official, Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, indicated that Israel's intelligence assessment suggests Hamas is focused on rearming rather than genuine demilitarization.
Spielman told The Associated Press that the Israeli military would not withdraw from Gaza, where it currently controls over 60% of the territory, until Hamas has disarmed. "Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct. 7-style attack," he said, referencing the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that initiated the current conflict.
These remarks follow Hamas's recent announcement that it would begin disarming as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the nearly nine-month conflict. The deal, which includes provisions for Hamas to surrender its weapons and dismantle its tunnel network, also envisions an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of a new Palestinian technocratic government, the deployment of an international security force, and the rebuilding of Gaza. Hamas disarming has been a persistent challenge that has stalled negotiations for months.
A copy of the agreement reviewed by the AP indicates that weapons held by the Hamas-run police would be transferred to a U.S.-backed committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, upon its arrival in the enclave. The timeline for this transfer is contingent on other steps. A process to decommission heavy weapons and dismantle military production sites and tunnels would commence after the Palestinian committee's arrival and the deployment of international forces, linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal.
Israel's current position appears to be influenced by its upcoming October elections, where Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a challenging re-election campaign. Coalition partners are urging a continued military operation in Gaza, while opponents criticize his administration's handling of the Oct. 7 attack. During that attack, Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and took 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 73,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
While Israel appreciates U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to its security, the government's stance on disarmament is based on intelligence suggesting Hamas continues to recruit fighters and rebuild its military capabilities. U.S. officials have stated that Israel was consulted throughout the negotiation process and is not being asked to commit to more than what was agreed upon in the October ceasefire and hostage release agreement. Details regarding Israel's specific communicated issues, including a desire for freedom to conduct military operations in Gaza and objections to Qatar and Turkey verifying stages of the agreement, have emerged through unofficial channels.
Meanwhile, overnight strikes in Gaza attributed to Israel resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people, including children, according to local hospitals. The Israeli military stated these strikes targeted militant operatives.