Israel has raised significant security concerns with the White House regarding a proposed agreement for Hamas to disarm, amid ongoing Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip that have resulted in civilian casualties. Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, expressed skepticism about Hamas’s commitment to genuine disarmament and emphasized that Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza until the militant group fully relinquishes its weapons.

Speaking on Sunday, Spielman highlighted Israel’s intelligence assessments indicating that Hamas is focused on rebuilding its military capabilities rather than demilitarizing. He warned that an early Israeli redeployment could enable Hamas to expand its influence across Gaza, reconstruct its infrastructure, and potentially carry out attacks similar to the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault, which led to a war that has since devastated the region.

Spielman underscored that true disarmament entails the physical surrender of weapons, dismissing any lesser measures as insufficient. His comments come days after Hamas announced plans to begin disarming under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement signed nearly nine months ago aimed at ending the almost three-year-long conflict.

The ceasefire plan, proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, outlines a phased approach requiring Hamas to surrender arms, destroy its extensive tunnel networks, and facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It also calls for the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian government, the deployment of international security forces, and reconstruction efforts within the enclave.

The transfer of weapons held by Hamas-affiliated police to a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee is set to occur following the committee's arrival in Gaza, according to the agreement obtained by international news agencies. Following this, the process to decommission heavier arms and dismantle military production sites, including tunnels, is expected to begin alongside the arrival of international security forces.

Despite the agreement, implementation faces substantial challenges. Israel maintains control over around 60 percent of Gaza, much of which has been heavily damaged or depopulated. The remaining Gaza territory, home to approximately two million Palestinians, includes areas where many live in severely damaged neighborhoods and makeshift camps.

Israel is unlikely to reduce its military presence or make significant concessions before its upcoming elections in October. Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a competitive race, with his far-right coalition advocating continued military pressure on Hamas, while opposition parties criticize his handling of the October 2023 attacks, which left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 hostage.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that Israeli airstrikes have killed over 73,000 people since the start of the conflict, although it does not differentiate between militant and civilian casualties. Women and children constitute roughly half of the fatalities.

While Israel commended Trump’s commitment to security and conflict resolution, the government’s stance remains firm on the necessity of Hamas’s disarmament based on intelligence indicating ongoing efforts by the group to rearm and recruit. U.S. officials stated that Israel was consulted throughout the negotiation process and has only been asked to fulfill prior commitments under the ceasefire and hostage release agreements.

Meanwhile, airstrikes continued into the weekend, with local hospitals in Gaza reporting at least 17 fatalities, including children. A recent strike on a residential building in southern Gaza killed three family members, including a four-year-old child. Israeli military officials maintained that their strikes targeted militant operatives.