Israel Raises Security Concerns Over Hamas Disarmament Proposal Amid Ongoing Negotiations

Israel has raised "serious security concerns" with the White House over a proposed disarmament agreement involving Hamas, with Israeli officials insisting that the militant group must fully surrender its weapons before any withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The comments came amid continued violence in the region, with Israeli strikes overnight and into Sunday evening reportedly killing at least 17 people, including children, in Gaza. Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, said Israel’s intelligence assessment suggests that Hamas remains focused on rebuilding its military capabilities rather than genuinely giving up its weapons.

His remarks were among the first public responses from Israeli officials after US President Donald Trump announced progress on a proposed agreement aimed at ending the conflict. Speaking to The Associated Press, Spielman said Israel believes withdrawing troops before Hamas is completely disarmed could allow the group to rebuild its military infrastructure and pose a renewed threat to Israeli communities. He stressed that the condition for any military withdrawal would be the physical surrender of Hamas weapons.

"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," Spielman said, referring to the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023 that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Spielman described disarmament as a non-negotiable requirement and said it would involve Hamas actually giving up its weapons rather than making verbal commitments. "Disarming means physically giving up the weapons.

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Nothing less," he said, highlighting Israel’s demand for concrete steps rather than assurances. The Israeli statement came days after Hamas indicated that it would begin disarming as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement intended to bring an end to the conflict. The development was seen as a possible breakthrough in negotiations, but major disagreements remain over implementation, timelines, security arrangements and the future governance of Gaza. Israel has maintained a significant military presence in Gaza during the conflict and currently controls large areas of the territory, according to Israeli officials.

The government has repeatedly stated that preventing Hamas from restoring its military capabilities is a central objective of its operations. Israeli leaders have argued that any long-term ceasefire must include security guarantees to prevent future attacks. However, the proposed agreement faces several challenges, including questions over how Hamas would disarm, who would oversee the process and how security responsibilities would be managed after a ceasefire. International mediators have been working to bridge differences between the two sides, but negotiations remain complex due to competing demands and deep mistrust.

The conflict, which began after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in extensive casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza. Humanitarian concerns have continued to grow, with international organisations calling for increased aid access and protection for civilians. As diplomatic efforts continue, Israel’s latest concerns highlight the difficulty of reaching a lasting agreement. While the possibility of a ceasefire and Hamas disarmament has raised hopes of ending the prolonged conflict, both sides remain divided over key conditions that will determine whether any deal can be successfully implemented.

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