Kathmandu— Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, has expressed serious security concerns over a proposed disarmament deal with Hamas. The deal, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and aimed at ending the nearly three-year-long conflict in Gaza, faces significant hurdles as Israel insists on full disarmament before any withdrawal of its forces.

Israeli Security Assessment

Spielman told The Associated Press that Israel’s intelligence assessment is that Hamas remains committed to rebuilding its military rather than genuinely demilitarizing. He emphasized that disarming means physically giving up weapons and destroying infrastructure, not just agreeing to do so in principle.

The Israeli government maintains that if it withdraws from Gaza before Hamas disarms completely, the militant group will quickly expand its presence throughout the territory, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, and threaten Israeli communities again.

Details of the Disarmament Agreement

According to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press, all weapons held by Hamas-run police are to be transferred to the U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee upon its arrival in Gaza. A process for decommissioning heavy weapons and dismantling military production sites will follow after the deployment of international forces.

The areas Israel controls in Gaza have been mostly destroyed and depopulated, with most of the territory’s 2 million Palestinians living in squalid conditions.

Political Implications

Israel appears unlikely to pull back significant forces or make other concessions ahead of its October elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tough reelection battle, with his far-right coalition partners urging him to keep up the pressure on Hamas and leave forces in Gaza.

Opponents accuse Netanyahu of failing to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants that killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.