Israel Rejects Gaza Withdrawal Until Hamas Fully Disarms

The Government of Israel has expressed serious security concerns to the White House regarding a U.S.-brokered disarmament deal with Hamas. Despite Hamas announcing its agreement to disarm, Israeli intelligence assesses that the group remains committed to rebuilding its military capabilities rather than genuinely demilitarizing.

Israel currently controls over 60% of the Gaza Strip and maintains it will not withdraw forces until Hamas is fully disarmed. Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that disarming means physically giving up weapons and warned that a premature redeployment would allow Hamas to rebuild its terrorist infrastructure and threaten Israeli communities again.

The proposed 20-point plan by President Donald Trump requires Hamas to surrender weapons and destroy its tunnel network. In exchange, Israel would withdraw its forces, international security forces would deploy, and a technocratic Palestinian government, via the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, would be installed. Israel has requested the freedom to continue military operations and the exclusion of Qatar and Turkey from the verification process.

Amid these diplomatic tensions, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 17 people, including children, on Sunday. The Israeli military stated these strikes targeted militant operatives.