The Israeli government has conveyed serious security concerns to the White House regarding the ceasefire plan brokered by Donald Trump that requires Hamas's disarmament. Israeli Prime Minister's Office spokesperson Doron Spielman stressed in a statement to The Associated Press that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Spielman stated that according to Israeli intelligence assessments, Hamas is focused on rebuilding its military capabilities rather than genuinely disarming. “In our assessment, if we redeploy before Hamas truly disarms, it will rapidly expand its presence across Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, threaten Israeli communities once again, and attempt to carry out another October 7-style attack,” he said.
The 20-point Trump plan announced last week envisions Hamas handing over its weapons, destroying its extensive tunnel network, and the establishment of a new Palestinian technocrat administration in Gaza. The plan also includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, the deployment of an international security force, and the reconstruction of the area.
According to the agreement text verified by The Associated Press, weapons held by Hamas-controlled police will be transferred to the U.S.-backed Gaza Administration National Committee once it assumes control. The agreement calls for the gradual decommissioning and storage of heavy weapons, dismantling of military production facilities, and destruction of tunnel infrastructure. These steps will be linked to Israel's phased military withdrawals.
Israeli officials believe the arrangement does not adequately address their security concerns. Spielman said their position is based on intelligence assessments showing that Hamas continues to recruit fighters, rebuild its military infrastructure, and arm itself despite months of negotiations. He stressed that Israel's military withdrawal will only occur after Hamas verifiably hands over all its weapons.
Sources close to the negotiations said Israel also conveyed its reservations through former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who serves on Trump's Peace Board. Among Israel's demands is maintaining the freedom to conduct military operations inside Gaza if deemed necessary.
According to another source, Israeli officials opposed giving Qatar and Turkey any role in verifying the implementation of the agreement and insisted that weapons seized from Hamas should be destroyed rather than merely stored after collection.
The White House declined to comment further on Sunday regarding Israel's assessment that Hamas is rebuilding its military capabilities. U.S. officials noted that Israel was consulted at every stage of the negotiations and that no commitments beyond the ceasefire and hostage release agreement reached last October are being sought.
Israel currently controls more than 60 percent of the Gaza Strip. Much of the territory under its control is heavily damaged and largely depopulated. Most of Gaza's approximately two million people live in overcrowded tent camps and devastated neighborhoods in the remaining areas.
Political considerations could also complicate the implementation of the agreement. Netanyahu faces parliamentary elections in October. While his far-right coalition partners want continued military pressure on Hamas and the preservation of an Israeli security presence in Gaza, opposition parties accuse Netanyahu of failing to prevent the October 7, 2023, attack. The Hamas-led attack killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Israel, and 251 were taken hostage.
