Sa’ar says Hamas seeks ‘Hezbollah model’ to avoid disarmament

Hamas has not indicated that it is prepared to surrender its weapons.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday dismissed Hamas’ announcement that it would hand over governing responsibilities in Gaza to a technocratic committee, saying the move is intended to preserve the terrorist group’s military power while avoiding disarmament.

Responding to Hamas’s July 6 announcement, Sa’ar said the proposal amounts to an effort to replicate what he described as the “Hezbollah model,” under which civilian authorities manage daily affairs while an armed organization retains effective control.

“The willingness to ‘make room’ for a technocratic government is designed to prevent Hamas from being disarmed,” Sa’ar said. “Hamas is interested in a ‘Hezbollah model’ in Gaza: The technocratic committee will be responsible for garbage collection and municipal services, and Hamas will remain the dominant military force.”

Sa’ar said Israel’s position remains tied to the framework supported by President Donald Trump.

“Israel insists on implementing the Trump plan as written, with the disarmament of Hamas and other terror organizations and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip at its core,” he said.

Hamas has presented the transfer of governing responsibilities as a step intended to advance the stalled peace process.

However, the group has not indicated that it is prepared to surrender its weapons, prompting skepticism from Israeli and US officials.

Speaking to Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo, a US official said the Trump administration views recent proposals for Gaza’s future governance as an attempt by Hamas to relinquish civilian responsibilities while retaining its weapons and military infrastructure.

According to the official, a technocratic government could assume responsibility for Gaza only after Hamas has been fully stripped of its military capabilities.

The official also said reconstruction would not begin while Hamas remained armed, adding that proposals allowing rebuilding before the terrorist group’s military infrastructure is dismantled would not be accepted.

The comments from both Israeli and US officials reflect continued opposition to any governance arrangement that leaves Hamas armed while transferring civilian administration to another body.