Palestinians carried a body from the site of an Israeli military strike in Gaza City on Sunday, August 2, 2026. This tragic scene unfolds as Tel Aviv shares serious security concerns with the White House about a proposed disarmament deal with Hamas, according to an Israeli official.
Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, highlighted Israel’s worries following President Donald Trump’s announcement of the agreement. Spielman emphasized that Israeli intelligence believes Hamas is intent on rebuilding its military, not demilitarizing. He asserted that before disarmament, Israeli forces would remain in Gaza, where Israel currently controls over 60% of the territory.
“Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, and once again threaten Israeli communities,” Spielman said. He added, “Disarming means physically giving up the weapons. Nothing less.”
His comments follow Hamas’ declaration that it would disarm as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed nine months ago. The deal intends to end the nearly three-year-long conflict but faces numerous hurdles and complex conditions.
Ceasefire Plan and Challenges
Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan requires Hamas to surrender its weapons and dismantle its extensive tunnel network. The plan also expects Israeli forces to withdraw, establish a new Palestinian government, deploy international security forces, and rebuild Gaza.
Although Hamas has agreed to disarm, negotiations have stalled for months. Trump announced that the agreement would occur in “carefully structured phases.” The AP obtained and verified a copy of the agreement that outlines all weapons held by Hamas-run police will be transferred to a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee upon its arrival in Gaza.
The timeline for these actions remains uncertain, subject to other conditions. Disarming and dismantling military sites will follow the establishment of the committee and the deployment of international forces. This disarmament process links to a phased Israeli withdrawal, according to the agreement.
Gaza has suffered extensive destruction and depopulation in areas under Israeli control. Most of Gaza’s 2 million residents live in other parts, including overcrowded tent camps.
Political Pressures and Security Concerns
Critics argue that Prime Minister Netanyahu faces intense political pressure ahead of the October elections, with opposition accusing him of mismanagement during earlier conflicts. On one hand, Netanyahu’s coalition partners call for maintaining a firm stance against Hamas, while on the other, critics demand accountability for past lapses.
Hamas-led militants previously attacked Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, resulting in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Israel retaliated with a military offensive, leading to over 73,000 fatalities in Gaza, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
Ongoing Israeli Strikes and Concerns About Re-armament
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued its strikes in Gaza, targeting what it claims to be Hamas operatives. Local hospitals reported at least 17 deaths in recent strikes, including children.
Spielman pointed out that while Israel values Trump’s security commitment, their intelligence suggests Hamas is rearming and recruiting. The White House has not directly addressed these claims publicly, but U.S. officials stated that Israel’s concerns were considered at each negotiation phase.
Officials familiar with the agreement mentioned that Israel communicated its concerns to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and expressed issues such as the exclusion of Qatar and Turkey from verification processes and the destruction of Hamas’ weapons post-confiscation.
As Gaza receives continued Israeli military actions, all eyes remain on how these disarmament discussions and security arrangements will unfold in the coming months.