Israel tells US it has 'concerns' over Trump's Hamas disarmament plan
Prime Minister Netanyahu's office said the published framework does not reflect Israel's position, citing intelligence that Hamas has rearmed since the October 2025 ceasefire.
Israel pushes back on Trump's plan
On Monday, Israel conveyed its "comments and concerns" to Washington about the Gaza disarmament framework announced by President Donald Trump. Doron Spielman, spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, told AFP that "the version that has been made public does not reflect Israel's positions." Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that Hamas has been rearming and recruiting new members since the ceasefire brokered by Trump in October 2025. That truce reduced the intensity of fighting, but Israel continued strikes it said targeted fighters and infrastructure, a claim repeatedly disputed by sources on the ground.
Israel has conveyed its comments and concerns on the proposed framework to our American counterparts. The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel's positions.
- Ceasefire announced by Trump reduces fighting intensity
- Trump announces disarmament agreement with Hamas
- Hamas accepts next phase, agrees to hand over weapons to Palestinian committee
- Israel conveys concerns to US, says published plan does not reflect its position
Hamas acceptance and Trump's optimism
Hamas announced on Friday that it had accepted the next phase of an agreement involving the handover of its weapons to a Palestinian governance committee that is being formed. Trump called the development a "major milestone" in efforts to end the war that began with the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and told reporters that Israel was "very happy" about the progress. However, Spielman said Hamas's actions showed it was preparing for "further October 7-style massacres." He stressed that the plan published by Trump's Board of Peace envisioned Gaza as "a demilitarised, deradicalised, terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours."
That vision stands in direct contrast to the current reality and to Hamas's stated intentions. The indispensable first step toward any lasting arrangement is the genuine, verifiable and irreversible demilitarisation of Hamas.
Anything short of full demilitarisation will leave Hamas with the capability to threaten Israel again.
Phased disarmament blueprint
The BBC reported details of the phased plan, which Trump outlined on Truth Social. Disarmament would begin with smaller armed groups, followed by the dismantling of Hamas's large-scale military infrastructure, including tunnel networks, weapons depots, and production facilities. A new Palestinian authority would then assume full control of weaponry in Gaza, including Hamas police arms. A "deactivation process" for heavy weapons would involve closing tunnels and temporarily suspending fighters operating those facilities. Ultimately, all private weapons in Gaza would be handled under Palestinian law. The US administration emphasised that the blueprint was designed on a "no trust" principle with strict verification, meaning neither side could advance to the next stage until the other had fully completed its obligations. One key question, the BBC noted, is how to safely store the collected weapons.
- Disarmament begins with smaller armed factions
- Tunnel networks, weapons depots and production facilities are dismantled
- A new authority assumes full control of weaponry in Gaza, including Hamas police arms
- Tunnels are closed and fighters operating heavy weapons are temporarily suspended
- All private weapons in Gaza are handled under Palestinian law
Skepticism on the ground
In Gaza, the announcement was met with little enthusiasm. BBC correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, reporting from Cairo, said that after years of failed ceasefires and collapsed deals, many Palestinians remain deeply skeptical of any new political breakthrough. Trust in both Hamas and Israel is low, as previous agreements repeatedly failed before delivering meaningful improvements on the ground. A US official told reporters that President Trump would be "very disappointed" if Israel decided not to withdraw from Gaza, a condition of the peace plan announced in October.
After years of failed ceasefires and collapsed deals, many Palestinians have become deeply skeptical of any new political breakthrough. Trust in both Hamas and Israel remains low, as previous agreements repeatedly failed before delivering meaningful improvements on the ground.
Continued violence
An Israeli political source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Israel, which still controls most of the Gaza Strip, would not withdraw its forces under the plan without first verifying Hamas's disarmament. Hamas has long advocated for gradual disarmament, with weapons handed to an independent committee after peace agreements, rather than an immediate unilateral surrender. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued. Palestinian authorities reported on Sunday that Israeli attacks killed at least 13 people.
