Report: US dropping demand for Hamas to disarm, worrying Israel

Hamas is regaining strength amid a deadlock on establishing a postwar international force, an Israeli official said.

By World Israel News Staff

The Trump administration is reportedly considering dropping its demand that Hamas officially disarm before reconstruction of the Gaza Strip begins, sparking concern among Israeli officials, according to Hebrew-language Channel 13 News.

The United States is said to be prepared to move forward with its plan to rebuild Gaza even as Hamas delays fulfilling its ceasefire obligations, which include returning all deceased hostages and surrendering its weapons.

Washington has reportedly determined that it will face significant challenges recruiting allies to forcibly disarm Hamas and is therefore ready to concede on that requirement in order to advance the peace plan and facilitate reconstruction.

Leaving Hamas armed and in de facto control of the Strip is totally unacceptable to Jerusalem, a senior Israeli official, speaking anonymously, told the outlet.

Currently, Hamas is taking advantage of a “deadlock” in negotiations over creating an international force to govern postwar Gaza, using the stalemate to regroup and reassert control over wide areas of the Strip, the official explained.

“This interim situation is the worst there is,” the Israeli source said. “Hamas has been strengthening in recent weeks since the end of the war.”

The official stressed that allowing reconstruction to proceed while Hamas maintains its weapons would directly contradict the terms of the ceasefire signed by Israel.

“There can be no rehabilitation before demilitarization. It is contrary to Trump’s plan. Gaza must be demilitarized,” the source emphasized.

The U.S. has promoted the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), under which thousands of troops from Muslim countries would be deployed to Gaza.

However, several influential Arab leaders — including from the Emirates and Jordan — have indicated they are not willing to engage in a military confrontation with Hamas.