Israel Raises Serious Security Concerns Over U.S.-Backed Hamas Disarmament Deal

Israel Shares Serious Security Concerns With White House

The announcement followed overnight and Sunday evening Israeli strikes in Gaza that killed at least 17 people, including children. Spielman stated that the Israeli military will not withdraw from Gaza—where it currently controls more than 60 percent of the territory—before Hamas disarms. According to CBC, Israeli intelligence assesses that Hamas remains committed to rebuilding its military capabilities rather than genuinely demilitarizing.

Stakes of the U.S.-Backed Ceasefire and Disarmament Plan

President Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan calls for Hamas to surrender its weapons and destroy its vast network of tunnels, alongside the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the arrival of a new technocratic Palestinian government, the deployment of an international security force, and the rebuilding of the battered enclave. Hamas recently stated that it would begin disarming as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed nine months ago to end the nearly three-year-old conflict.

However, the agreement outlines a complex process where heavy weapons decommissioning, military production site dismantlement, and tunnel destruction will only begin after the arrival of a Palestinian committee and international forces, linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal. Spielman warned that if Israeli forces redeploy prematurely, Hamas will quickly expand its presence, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, and seek to carry out another attack echoing the events of October 7, 2023. As Firstpost noted, weapons held by the Hamas-run police force are intended to transfer to a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic administration once it assumes responsibility.

Political Context and Human Toll in Gaza

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a difficult reelection battle ahead of October elections. His far-right coalition partners are urging him to maintain military pressure on Gaza and keep forces stationed there, while opponents accuse him of failing to prevent the October 7, 2023, militant attack that killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.

Israel’s subsequent military offensive has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose records are viewed as generally reliable by United Nations agencies and international organizations. Meanwhile, most of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians remain crowded into tent camps and destroyed neighborhoods outside the areas controlled by Israeli forces, which are mostly destroyed and depopulated.

Key Elements of the Proposed Agreement

• Disarmament Requirement: Hamas must physically give up its weapons, dismantle military production sites, and destroy its tunnel network.
• Troop Status: Israel maintains that its military will not withdraw from the territory, where it controls over 60 percent of the land, until disarmament occurs.
• International and Regional Deployment: The process is contingent on the arrival of a Palestinian committee and international security forces.
• Administration Transition: Weapons held by the Hamas-run police force are slated for transfer to a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic administration.