Netanyahu: Hamas Must Disarm Before Gaza Withdrawal

Israel will not accept a Gaza ceasefire framework that allows Hamas to retain its weapons, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new international spokesperson, Doron Spielman. Speaking to JNS, Spielman said Hamas remains committed to terrorism and must be completely disarmed before Israel considers withdrawing its troops from Gaza.

“The prime minister is not going to do anything that is going to put the Israeli people at risk,” Spielman said, emphasizing that Netanyahu is “aware of Hamas’s intentions” and that the group is “just as committed to terrorism today” as it was on Oct. 7, 2023.

Netanyahu has rejected the recent 15-point roadmap on Hamas disarmament announced by President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Spielman said the concern is that allowing Hamas to retain weapons could enable the terrorist organization to rebuild its military capabilities.

“By truly disarming, I mean all of their weapons are going to be handed over and removed from the area, from Gaza,” Spielman said, describing Netanyahu’s position.

However, Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, has said the roadmap does not require an IDF withdrawal from the Yellow Line until Hamas’s disarmament has been verified sector by sector under American-led oversight. Weapons would be collected and tunnels destroyed before military withdrawals occur, with the stated goal of ensuring that Gaza “is never again a threat to Israeli security.”

The issue of Israeli security extends beyond Gaza. Spielman described a shift in Israel’s approach to threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying Israel is increasingly seeking to prevent attacks before they reach Israeli territory.

Spielman also addressed the continuing threat from Iran, arguing that Tehran responds primarily to a credible threat of force. He pointed to Israel’s policy of deterrence and said that Iran’s reluctance to directly attack Israel demonstrates the importance of maintaining a strong defense posture.

“There’s only one country that Iran’s not shooting against, which is Israel,” Spielman said. “Why aren’t they shooting against Israel? Because they know, as the prime minister said, we will deal them a blow that they will never forget.”

The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the safety and security of Israel, for the protection of its citizens, and for wisdom for Israel’s leaders and allies as they face continuing threats throughout the region.